EEPRINT 



THE ORIGINAL LETTERS 



FASHINGTOA^ TO JOSEPH REED^ 



THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. 



REFERRED TO IN THE PAMPHLETS OF LORD MAHON AND MR. SPARKS. 



BY 

WILLIAM B. REED, 



> 



PHILADELPHIA: 
A. HART, LATE CAREY AND HART. 

1852. 



3/^ 



T^ 



i%S^ 



r II 1 L A D K I. 1' il I A : 
T. K. AND P. G. COLLINS, PRINTERS. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The object of this republication of original letters 
may be briefly stated. In or before the year 1834, 1 
forwarded to Mr. Sparks, then engaged in preparing 
his edition of the Works of "Washington, copies of a 
series of letters from the Commander-in-Chief to my 
ancestor, General Reed, written from Cambridge in 
the years 1775 and 1776. They were private and 
confidential, and, on that account, very interesting 
and valuable. Mr. Sparks printed a number of 
these letters. He thought it right to omit certain 
passages in them, and to make some alterations of 
phraseology, and it is possible, though I have no 
recollection of it, he apprised me of having done so 
at the time. He certainly did, at a later period, 
in 1838. 

In 1847, thirteen years after Mr. Sparks's publi- 
cation, appeared my Biography of Reed. In it, I 
printed the Washington letters from the originals; 
the only variations being occasional corrections of 
grammar and spelling, and the omission of one or 



two sentences, evidently the result of oversight on 
my part. 

In 1851, Lord Mahon published the fifth and 
sixth volumes of " The History of England from 
the Peace of Utrecht," and noticed the difference 
of text between Mr. Sparks's work and mine. 

Hence has arisen a controversy in which, on each 
side, an appeal has, at least impliedly, been made to 
me, as a disinterested witness, to place before the 
public the exact truth with regard to these manu- 
scripts. 

I have thought it my duty to reprint the letters, 
and to have them carefully collated, so that even 
literal variations may be noted. It will thus be 
seen that the imputed blemishes on Washington's 
style, as a rapid and inartificial letter-writer, have 
been much exaggerated. The originals are open 
to the inspection of any one who may desire to 
look at them. In adopting this course, and ab- 
staining from controversy, I am actuated by a 
sense of duty to all parties. Justice to Lord Mahon 
obliges me to show exactly how this difficulty 
began. He has himself, in the handsomest man- 
ner, withdrawn one of the charges he made, 
and is entitled to the testimony these documents 
afford to the integrity of the motive which led to 
the error. Justice to Mr. Sparks requires me to 
relieve him, by the actual exhibition of the papers, 
from the charge of having made additions to the 
text of the Washington letters. Justice to myself 
and my character as a faithful contributor to his- 
tory, imperatively requires me to place distinctly 



before the public the actual state of these manu- 
scripts, and to have them properly attested; for I 
have felt, more than once, in the progress of this 
discussion, that, should the original papers be de- 
stroyed, an accident to which manuscripts are espe- 
cially exposed, a serious imputation might rest on 
me for having interpolated the very passages which 
Mr. Sparks thought proper to omit. The only safe 
rule seems to be that which was adopted by Chief- 
Justice Marshall long ago. I have before me an 
unpubHshed letter from him to the printer of his 
Life of Washington in 1804, in answer to an urgent 
request for the suj)pression of a passage calculated 
to give pain to living persons. The request was 
assented to, but explicit direction given to mark 
the fact that a passage was omitted. This course, 
as far as possible, I endeavored to adopt in my Life 
of Reed. 

Li the following pages, the reader will find accu- 
rately noted the variations between the original 
manuscripts and the copies printed by myself and 
Mr. Sparks. I cannot, in justice, note one without 
the other. In this way, an accurate judgment may 
be formed of the real extent of the alterations. I 
have thought it best to reprint every one of the 
letters which have been selected by Mr. Sparks, even 
when he copied, not from my originals, but from the 
letter-books, in order to show, as a mere matter of 
literary curiosity, how far they differ. 

The letters in question were part of a private 
correspondence, the most friendly and unreserved. 



Hence, in my opinion, their value. Their true 
interest depends on being the exact transcript of 
what the writers thought and wrote. It was the 
hearty, familiar letter-writing of two friends, between 
whom there had grown up, in the daily and hourly 
intercourse of the same quarters in the " Rebel" 
camp, the most implicit, unsuspecting confidence. 
Mr. Reed was not exactly, at the age of thirt37-three, 
of that class of thoughtless young men with whom it 
has been intimated Washington, himself but little 
over forty, was surrounded.* From June to Octo- 
ber, 1775, Washington and his "First Secretary" 
had occupied the same house, lived at the same 
table, shared the same dangers and responsibilities, 
watched and counselled together as two men of af- 
fectionate unreserve are apt to do; and when they 
were separated, the confidence was not interrupted, 
the unreserve not broken; and Washington writing 
to Reed in Philadelphia, was as if Washington were 
talking to Reed, in the anxious seclusion of the head- 
quarters at Cambridge. Such are these letters in 
their original form. At the time of their publica- 
tion, I had no doubt that it was my duty to print 
them exactly as they were written. I have never 
doubted it since. 

The portions of the following letters omitted ac- 



* North American Review, July, 1852, p. 203. I may venture 
to observe that not a little of the asperity which has disfigured this 
controversy is attributable to the very unkind tone which anony- 
mous writers (always more or less irresponsible) have thought 
proper to adopt. 



cidentally by ine are noted at the foot of each page, 
and those omitted by Mr. Sparks are in Italics, his 
changes of phraseology and omissions being marked 
•with a letter S. in the margin. 

WILLIAM B. REED. 

Philadelphia, November 16, 1852. 



LETTEES. 

WASHINGTON TO REED. 



Cambridge, 8/A November, 
1775. 
Dear Sir, 

The Shipwreck of a Vessel, 
said to be from Philadelphia to 
Boston, near Plymouth, with 120 
pipes of wine; 118 oficliicli^ are 
saved — another from Boston to 
Hallifax, near Beverly, with 
about £240 worth of dry goods 
— the taking of a wood vessel, 
bound to Boston, by Captain 
Adams — and the sudden depart- 
ure of Mr. Randolph, (occa- 
sioned by the death of his 
uncle,) are all the occurrences 
worth noticing, which have hap- 
pened since you left tliis.^ 

I have ordered the wine and 
goods to this place, for sale ; as 
also the papers ; the latter may 
unfold secrets that may not be 
pleasing to some of your towns- 
men; and which, so soon as 
known, will be communicated. 

I have been happy enouglv^ 
to convince Captain McPherson, 
as he says, of the propriety of 
returning to the Congress — he 
sets out this day, and I am 
happy in his having an oppor- 



^ S. "of which one hundred and 
eighteen." 



S. ''since your departure." 



^ S. "I have convinced." 

" happy enough" is Italicized in 

the orio-inal. 



10 



tunity of laying before them a 

scheme for the destruction of the 

naval force of G. Britain. A 

letter and journal of Colonel 

Arnold's, to the 13th ultimo, is 

come to hand,* copy of which I * S. "are" come to hand. 

inclose to the Congress, and by 

application to Mr. Thompson 

you can see. I think he is in 

Quebec, — if I hear nothing more 

of him in five days I shall be 

sure of it. 

I had like to have forgot what 
sets^ heaviest upon my mind; ^ S. "sits." 
the new arrangement of oificers, 
although we have not enough to 
constitute the new corps, it hath'^ ^ S. "has." 
employed the general officers and 
myself ever since Thursday last, 
and we are nearly as we begun. 

Connecticut wants no Massa- 
chusets man in their corp. Mas- 
sachusets thinks there is no 
necessity for a Rhode Islander* 
to be introduced amoTz^s^ ?7i(?m;' '' S. "into hers." 
and New Hampshire says it's 
very hard that her valuable and 
experienced officers, (who are 
willing to serve,) should be dis- 
carded, because her own regi- 
ments under the new establish- 
ment cannot provide for them. 

In short, after a fourf days' 
labour, I expect that numbers 
of officers who have given in 
their names to serve, must be 



* These ■words "for a Rhode Islander" are not printed by me. 
f Printed by me as by Mr. Sparks "few." 



ll 



discarded from Massacliuscts,^ 
(wliere the regiments have been 
numerous, and the number in 
them small,) and Connecticut^ 
compleated with a fresh recruit 
of officers from its^° own govern- 
ment. This will be departing 
not only from the principals of 
common justice, but from the 
letter of the Resolve agreed on 
at this place; but at present I 
see no help for it. We are to 
have another meeting upon the 
matter this day, when something 
must be hit upon, as time is 
slipping of. My compliments 
to Mrs. Reed, and to all in- 
quiring friends. I am, with 
sincerity and truth, dear sir, 

Your affectionate humble 

servant, 
G" WASHINGTON. 
'*P. S. I had Just finished 
my letter when a hlundering 
Lieut"'^ of the hlundering Cajyt^ 
Coit, who had just hlundered 
upon two vessels from Nova 
Scotia, came in with the acc^ of 
it, and before I coidd rescue my 
letter, without Tcnowing what he 
did, picked up a candle and 
sprinkled it with grease; hut 
these are kind of blunders which 
one can readily excuse. The 
vessels contain hay, live-stock, 
poultry, &c., and are note safely 
moor'' d in Plymouth harbour. 
Yours, &c. 

G. W n. 



^ S. "from the Massachusetts 
corps." 

8 S. "that of Connecticut." 

1" S. "her." 



*^ The Postscript omitted by 
Mr. Sparks. 



12 



II. 

Cambridge, 
20th Novr 1775. 

Dear Sir 

Your letters of the AtJi from 
Neio York, Ithand — fromPhi- 
ladelpliia, (the last hy express) 
are all hefore me, and gave me 
tlie pleasure to hear of your 
happy meeting with Mrs. Reed, 
toithout any other accident than 
that of leaving a horse hy the 
icay.^^ ^2 S. Omitted by Mr. Sparks. 

The hint contain'd in the last 
of your letters respecting your 
continuance in my family; in 
other words, your wish that I 
could dispense with it, gives me 
pain. You already, my dear sir, 
knew my sentiments on this 
matter; you cannot but be sen- 
sible of your importance to me : 
at the same time, I shall again 
repeat what I have observ'd to 
you before, that I can never 
think of promoting my conve- 
nience at the expence of your 
interest and inclination. That 
I feel the want of you, yourself 

can Judge,^^ when I inform you ^^ S. You can judge that I feel 
that the peculiar situation of the want, &c. 
Mr. Kandolph's affairs obliged 
him to leave this^* soon after " S. '4-his place." 
you did — that Mr. Baylor, con- 
trary to my expectation, is not 
in the smallest degree a penman, 
though spirited and willing — 



13 



and that Mr. Harrison, though 

sensible, clever, '^^ and perfectly *^ S. "clear," obviously a mis- 
confidential, has never yet mov- print, 
ed upon so large a scale as to 
comprehend at one view the di- 
versity of matter which comes 
before me, so as to afi'ord that 
ready assistance which every 
man in my situation must stand 
more or less in need of. Mr. 
Moylan, it is true, is very oblig- 
ing; he gives me what assist- 
ance he can, but other business 
must necessarily deprive me of 
his aid in a very short time. 
This is my situation: — judge 
you, therefore, how much I 
wish'd for your return, espe- 
cially as the armed vessels, and 
the capitol change (in the state 
of this army) about to take 
place, have added an addi- 
tional^^ weight to a burthen be- *^ S. "a new weight." 
fore too great for me to stand 
under, with the smallest degree 
of comfort to my own feelings. 
My mind is now fully disclosed 
to you, with this assurance sin- 
cerely and affectionately accom- 
panying of'^ it, that whilst you are *'' S. "of" omitted. It is also 
disposed to continue with me, I omitted by me. 
shall think myself too fortunate 
and happy to wish for a change. 
Doctr. Morgan, (as director 
of the hospital,) is exceedingly 
wanted at this place, and ought 
not to delay his departure for 
the camp a moment, many regu- 



14 



lations being delayed,'^^ and ac- 
counts postpon'd till his arrival. 
'^I have given G. S. and Col. 
P. a hint of the 'prevailing re- 
ports in Connecticut, without 
intimating from what quarter 
they came (^for indeed I have 
received them through different 
channels) in order to put them 
upon their guard ; they both deny 
the charge roundly, and wish for 
an oppertunity of vindication. I 
thought as this information had 
come to my ears in different ways, 
it was best to speak to these gen- 
tlemen in terms expressive of my 
abhorance of such conduct, and 
of the consequences that might 
flow from it, and think it will 
have a good effect. The method 
you have suggested o/^" the ad- 
vanced pay, I very much ap- 
prove of, and would adopt but 
for the unfortunate cramp'd 
state of our Treasury, which 
keeps us for ever under the 
Hatches. Pray urge the neces- 
sity of this measure to such 
members as you may converse 
with, and the want of cash to 
pay the troops for the months 
of Octi" and Nov^", as also to 
answer the demands of the com- 
missary — quartermaster and — 
contingencies. To do all this, a 
considerable sum will be neces- 
sai-y. Do not neglect to put 
that wheel in motion, which is 



^^ S. "deferred. 



The passage in Italics omitted. 



^ S. "concerning the advanced 
pay." 



15 



to bring us the shirts, medicines, 
&c. from New York — they are 
much wanting here, and cannot 
be had, I should think, upon 
better terms than on a loan from 
the best of kings, so anxiously 
disposed to promote the welfare 
of his American subjects. 

Dr. Church is gone to Gov. 
Trumbull, to be disposed of in 
a Connecticut gaol, without the 
use of pen, ink, and paper, — to 
be convers'd with in the pre- 
sence of a magistrate only, and 
in the English language ; — so 
much for indiscretion the doctor 
will say. Your accounts of our 
dependance upon the people of 
Great Britain, I religeously be- 
lieve; it has long been my poli- 
tical creed, that the Ministry 

durst nof^ have gone on as they ^* S. "would not have dared." 
did, but under the firmest per- 
suasion that the people were with 
them. The weather has been 
unfavourable, however, for the 
arrival of their transports, — only 
four companies of the 17th re- 
giment, and two of the artillery, 
are yet arrived by our last ad- 
vices from Boston. 

Our RascaUjf^ privateersmen ^^ S. "rascally" omitted, 
go on at the old rate, mutinying 
if they cannot do as they please. 
Those at Plymouth, Beverly, 
and Portsmouth, have done no- 
thing worth mentioning in ye 
prize way, and no accounts are 



16 



yet received from those further 
eastward. 

Arnold, by a letter wtich left 
him the 27th ult. had then only 
got to the Chaudiere Pond, and 
was scarce of provisions : his 
rear division, under the com- 
mand of the- nohle^ Colonel 
Enos, had, without his privity 
or consent, left him with three 
companies, and his expedition 
(inasmuch as it is to be appre- 
hended that Carlton, with the 
remains of such force as he had 
been able to raise, would get 
into Quebec before him,) I fear, 
in a bad way ; for further 
particulars I refer you to Mr. 
Hancock, lolw has enclosed to 
liwv^ copies of Arnold's and 
Enos's letters. The last named 
person is not yet arrived at this 
camp. 

I thank you for your frequent 
mention of Mrs. Washington. I 
expect she will be in Philadel- 
phia about the time this letter 
may reach you, on her way 
hither; as she and her conductor 
(who / expecfi^ will be Mr. Cus- 
tis, her son,) are perfect stran- 
gers to the road, the stages, and 
the proper place to cross Hud- 
son's River, (by all means avoid- 
ing New York,) I shall be much 
obliged in^^ your particular in- 
structions, and advice to her. I 
do^'^ imagine, as the roads are 



23 S. "the noble" omitted. It 
is Italicized in the autograph by 
Washington. 



^ S. "to whom are enclosed. 



S. "I suppose." 



2^ S. "by your particular 

structions." 

=7 S. "do" omitted. 



17 



bad, and the weather cold, her 
stages must be short, especially 
as I expect^ her horses will be 
pretty mucli^^ fatigued, as they 
loill, Jjy the time she gets to 
Philadelphia, have performed a 
journey of at least 450 miles, 
my express finding of* her 
among her friends near Wil- 
liamsburg, 150 miles below my 
own house. 

^As you have mentioned no- 
thing in your letters of the can- 
non, d-c., to be had from N 
Ylx, Ticonderoga, &c, I have, 
in order to reduce the matter to 
a certainty, employed Mr. Knox 
to go to those places, compleat our 
loants, and to pi^ovide such mili- 
tary stores as St. John's can 
spare. 

My respectful compliments to 
Mrs. Keed, &c. 

Be assured that I am. 
Dear sir, with affectionate 
regard, 
G° WASHINGTON. 

Flints are greatly wanted here.f 



"^ S. "I presume." 
^^ S. "pretty much" omitted, 
and "when they get to Phila- 
delphia" instead of "by the time 
she gets." 



^0 S. The 
omitted. 



rest of the letter 



* The word "of" omitted by me, and printed " having found" bj^ Mr. 
Sparks. 

f This "P. S." omitted by me and by Mr. Sparks. It is written along 
the margin in the original. 



18 
m. 

Cambbidge, 28?A Nov. 1775. 

Dear Sir, 

By post I wrote to you yester- 
day in answer to your letter of 

the IQih since which^^ your fa- ^^ S. Part in Italics omitted, 
vours of the 15th and 17th are 

come to hand. In one of these^^ ^^ S. "In one of them." 
you justly observe that the sud- 
den departure of Mr. Randolph 
must cause your absence to be 
the more sensibly felt, I can 
truely assure you that I miss 
you exceedingly, and if an ex- 
press declaration of this^^ be ^^ S. "of this" omitted, 
wanting to hasten your return, 
I make it most heartily, and 
with some pleasure, as Mr. 
Lynch, in a letter of the 13th 
(received with yours,)^ gives ^ S. "omitted." 
this information. "In conse- 
quence of your letter by Colo- 
nel Reed, I applied to the Chief 
Justice, who tells me the Su- 
preme Courts are lately held, 
and that it will be some time 
before their term will return, 
that he knows of no capitol suit 
now depending, and that it is 
very easy for Colonel Reed to 
manage matters so as not to let 
that prevent his return to you ;* 
I am sure Mr. Chew is so heart- 
ily disposed to oblige you, and 



* The words "that prevent" omitted by me. 



19 



to serve the cause, that nothing 
in his power will be wanting." 

I could wish, my good friend, 
that these things may give a 
spur to your inclination to re- 
turn, and that I may see you 
here as soon as convenient, as" 
I feel the want of your ready 
pen, &c. greatly. 

What an astonishing thing it 
is that those who are employed 
to sign the Continental Bills 
should not be able or inclined 
to do it as fast as they are 
wanted. They will prove the 
destruction of the army if they 
are not more attentive and dili- 
gent. Such a dearth of publick 
spirit* and^^ want of virtue, such 
stock-jobbing and fertility in all 
the low arts to obtain advan- 
tages, of one kind or another, 
in this great change of military 
arrangemt, I never saw before, 
and -pray GodF' I may never 
be witness to again. What will 
be the ultimate^ end of these 
manouvres is beyond my scan. 
I tremble at the prospect. We 
have been till this time enlisting 
about 3500 men. To engage 
these, I have been obliged to 
allow furloughs as far as 50 men 
a''^ Regiment; and the ofl&cers, I 
am persuaded, endulge as many 
more. 



35 S. "for." 



S. "si(c/t want." 



^' S. "pray God's mercy." 



^ S. "ultimate" omitted. 



S. "to a regiment.' 



'Spirit" omitted by me. 



20 



The Connecticut troops will 
not be prevailed upon to stay 
longer than their term, (saving 
those who have enlisted for the 
next campaign, and*° mostly on 
furlough,) and such a dirty^^'^ 
mercenary spirit pervades the 
whole that I should not be at 
all surpriz'd at any disaster that 
may happen. In short, after the 
last of this month, our lines will 
be so weaken'd that the minute 
men and militia must be call'd 
in for their defense, — *^these 
being under no kind of govern- 
ment themselves, will destroy 
the little subordination I have 
been labouring to establish, and 
run me into one evil whilst I 
am endeavouring to avoid an- 
other ; but the ?esse>-*^ must be 
chosen. Could I have foreseen 
what I have,** and am like to ex- 
perience, no consideration upon 
earth should have induced me 
to accept this command. A 
regiment or any subordinate 
department would have been ac- 
companied with ten times the 
satisfaction, — perhaps the hon- 
our. 

'^^Ithinli, Unformed you in my 
letter of yesterday, that we had 
taken possession of* and had 
fortified Colble Hill, and several 
points round the Bay, between 



« S. "and are." 

*i S. "dirty" omitted. 



*^ S. "and these." 



« S. The "less. 



" S. "experienced." 



S. Passage in Italics omitted. 



* "Of" omitted by me. 



21 



tliat and Roxhury. In a night 
or two more, we shall begin oiir 
xcorh on Litchmore's Point ; 
ichcn, doubtless, we shall be hon- 
onr'd icith their notice, tinlcss 
Gen' I Howe is waiting the fa- 
vourable moment he has been told 
of, to aim a capital blowj which 
is my fixed opinion. 

The Congress already know, 
from the general estimate given 
in (for a month) what sum it 
will take to supply this'^^ army; 
and that little less than 275,000 
dollars will answer the purpose. 

Pray impress this upon the 
members, and the necessity of 
forwarding the last sum voted, 
as 100,000 dollars will be hut 
a fiea-bite*'' to our demands at 
this time. *^Did I not in one 
of my late letters inform you, that 
I had sent Mr. Knox throw New 
YorTi to Genercd Schuyler to see 
what artillery I could get from 
those jJlacesP He has been set oiU 
upon this business about ten days, 
and I hope will fall in loith the 
Committee of Congress. Poicder 
is also so much tcanted, that no- 
thing tvithout it can be done. 

I wish that matter respecting 
the punctilio, hinted at by you, 
could come to some decision of 
Congress. I have done nothing 
yet in respect to the proposed 
exchange of prisoners, nor shall 
I noio*^ until I hear from them. 



S. ''the army." 



*'' S. "totally inadequate." 
*^ S. Passage in Italics omitted. 



*3 S. "now" omitted. 



22 



or you, on this subject. I am 
sorry Mr. White met with a 
disappointment in the Jerseys, 
as I could wish not to be under 
the necessity, from any former 
encouragement given him, of 
taking him into my family. I 
find it is absolutely necessary 
that the Aids to the Command- 
er-in-Chief, should be ready at 
their pen (which I believe he is 
not) to give^ that ready assist- 
ance that is expected of them ; 
^^7 shall make a lame hand 
therefore to have two of this 
kidnei/. 

It would give me singular 
pleasure to provide for those 
two gentlemen mentioned in 
your letter, but believe me, it 
is beyond the powers of con- 
ception to discover^^ the absurdi- 
ties and partiality of these peo- 
ple, and the trouble and vexation 
I have had in the new arrange- 
ment of officers. After five, I 
think, diiFerent meetings of the 
gen'l officers, I have in a manner 
been obliged to give in^^ to the 
humour and whimsies of the 
people, or get no army. The 
officers of one government would 
not serve in the Regiments of an- 
other, (although there was to be 
an entire new creation) — a captn 
must be in this Regiment, a sub- 
altern in that company; in short 
I can scarce tell at this moment 



"^ S. "to render," and "ready" 

omitted. 

^^ S. Sentence in Italics omitted. 



52 S. "to realize." 



S. "to yield." 



23 



in what manner tliey are fixed. 
Some time hence strangers may 
be brought in, but it could not 
be done now, except in an in- 
stance or two, without putting 
too much to the^ hazard. 

^I have this inst{ }jy express 
received the agreeable news of the 
capitulation of Montreal. The 
acci of it, you also, undoubtedly 
have. Poor Arnold, I toonder 
where he is. JEJnos left him loith 
the rear division of his army, 
and is now hear %inder arrest. 

What can your brethren of the 
law mean by saying your perqui- 
sites as Secretary must be con- 
siderable? I am sure they have 
not amounted to one farthing. 
Captain Blewer waits, and there- 
fore, I shall add no more than 
that I am, dear sir. 

Your most obedient and 
affectionate servant, 
G° WASHINGTON. 

P. S.'^ Please to let CoP Lee 
know that I ansicer'd his query 
by last post respecting the arm'd 
vessels of this Province, and those 
fitted out by the Continent. 



** S. "to hazard." 

" S. Passage in Italics omitted. 



S. Postscript omitted. 



24 



IV. 



Cambridge, SOth Novr 1775.* 
Dear Sir, 

Two days ago I wrote fully to 
you by Captain Blewer — to this 
letter I refer, since which your 
favJ" of the 20th, with the agree- 
able Postscript of the 21st, is 
come to hand, and demands my 
acknowledgments for the civility 
intended Mrs. Washington by 
you, &c. 

I have a very singular plea- 
sure in informing off you, that 
by express last night from Cape 
Ann, I received the glad tidings 
of the capture of the Nancy store- 
ship from London, by Captn. 
Manley, contents as pr the in- 
closed copy, (taken by Mr. 
Pierce, to save me, you must 
know, the trouble of innumera- 
tion.) He, unluckily, miss'd 
the greatest prize in the world; 
their whole ordinance, the ship 
containing it being just ahead, 
but he could not have got both; 
and we must be thankful, as I 
truly am, for this instance of 
Divine favour; for nothing, 
surely, ever came more a propos 
— that no part of it may slip 
throw my fingers, (for I have 



* This letter is not printed at length in Mr. Sparks's collection, but an 
extract will be found in a note at p. 157 of his 3d volume. The part ex- 
tracted is within brackets on the next page. 

J " Of" omitted by me. 



25 



no doubt as this capture was 
made in sight of the other ves- 
sell, of there being some bold 
push to recover it) I instantly 
upon receiving the ace*, ordered 
four companies down to protect 
the stores; teams to be impress'd 
to remove them without delay ; 
and CoP G-lover to assemble the 
minute men in the neighbour- 
hood of Cape Ann, to secure the 
removal to places of safety. 

The colouring of that affair at 
Litchmore's Point has been ra- 
ther too high. [The alacrity of 
the riffllemen and officers upon 
that occasion did them honour, 
to which Col Patterson's regi- 
ment and some others were 
equally entitled, except in a few 
instances ; but the tide, at that 
time was so exceedingly high as 
to compel a large circuit before 
our men could get to the Causey,^'' 
by which means the enemy, ex- 
cept a small covering party, (dis- 
tant from the dry land on this 
side near four hundred yards,) 
had retreated, or were about to 
imbark; all the shot therefore 
that pass'd were at a great dis- 
tance; however, the men went 
to and over the Causey, (except 
as hcfore mentioned,y^ spiritedly 
enough. 

This little manouvre of the 
enemy is nothing more than a 
prelude. We have certain advice 



^'^ S. "causeway. 



^^ S. "except as before men- 
tioned" omitted. 



26 



of a scoundrel from Marblehead, 
a man of property, having car- 
ried into General How a true 
state* of the temper and disposi- 
tion of the troops, towards the 
new Inlistment; and ha(h^° given 
him the strongest assurances of 
the practicability of making him- 
self master of these lines in a 
very short time, from the disaf- 
fection of the soldiery to continue 
in service.^ I am endeavouring 
to counteract him, how effec- 
tually time alone can show. 

I began our bomb-battery on^^ 
Litchmore's Point last night; 
the workg party came off at 
darf^ without having met with 
any interruption; the weather 
favour'd our operations, the 
earth being clear of frost ; nof^ 
an officer in the army hut holes 
for^ an attack. This has no ^ S. "who does not look for. 



59 S. "hath" omitted, and 
printed by me "having." 



"" S. "disaffection of the soldiers 
to the service." 

«i S. "at." 



S. "in the morning." 



"* S. "there is not." 



effect upon the Connecticut re- 
giments, they are resolved to go 
off.] My best respects to Mrs. 
Reed and any other friends. Be 
assured I am, dear sir, yi" affect^ 
G° WASHINGTON. 



V. 



Cambridge, \hth Deer 1775. 
Dear Sir 

Since my last I have had the 
pleasure of receiving your fa- 



* Priuted by me "statement." 



27 



vours of the 28th ulto. and 2d 
instt. I must again express my 
gratitude for the attentions shewn^^ 
Mrs. Washington at Philadel- 
phia. It cannot but be pleasing, 
altho it did in some measure 
impede the progress of her jour- 
ney on the road.^ I am much 
obliged to you for the hints con- 
tained in both of the above let- 
ters, respecting the jealousies 
which you say are gone abroad. 
I have studiously avoided, in all 
letters intended^ for the publick 
eye, I mean for that of the Con- 
gress, — every expression that 
could give pain or uneasiness ; — 
and I shall observe the same 
rule with respect to private let- 
ters, further^ than appears abso- 
lutely necessary for the illucida- 
tion of facts. I cannot charge 
myself with incivility, or what, 
in my opinion, is tantamount, 
ceremonious civility, to the Gen- 
tlemen of this Colony; but if 
such my conduct appears, I will 
endeavour at a reformation, as 
I can assure you, my dear Reed, 
that I wish to walk in such a 
line as will give most general 
satisfaction. You know that it 
was my wish at first to invite a 
certain number of gcntlemcn^^ of 
this Colony every day to dinner, 
but unintentionally, ''°/ helieve 
hy any hody, we some how or 
other missed of it; if this has 



^' S. "shown to. 



S. "on the road" omitted. 



«7 S. "calculated." 



S. " OH?/ further." 



'^^ S. ^^ the gentlemen." 

^° S. "I believe by any body" 
omitted. 



28 



given rise to the jealousy, I can* 
only say that I am sorry for it ; 
at the same time I add, that it 
was rather owing to inattention, 
or more properly too much at- 
tention to other matters, which 
caused me to neglect it. The 
extracts of letters from this 
camp which so frequently ap- 
pear in the Pens^ papers, are 
not only written without my 
knowledge, but without my ap- 
probation j as I have always 
thought they must have a dis- 
agreeabM^ tendency ; but there 
is no restraining men's tongues 
or pens when charged with a 
little vanity, as in the accounts 
given of, or rather by the riffle- 
men. 

With respect to what you have 
said of yourself, and situation, to 
idiat I have hcfore said on this 
stdjjcct,"^ I can only add, that 
whilst you leave the door open 
to my expectation of your re- 
turn, I shall not think of sup- 
plying your place — if, ultimate- 
ly, you resolve against coming, 
I should be glad to know it, as 
soon as you have determined 
iqyon itP The congress have 
resolVd well in respect to the 
pay of and advance to'* the 
men; but if they cannot get the 
money signers to dispatch their 



71 S. "unfavorable." 



'''^ S. Transposed "I can only 
add to what I have before said 
on this subject." The word 
"before" omitted by me. 



"^ S. "upon it" omitted. 

''* S. " and advance to" omitted. 



* Printed by me " I cannot say," &c. 



29 



business, it is of very little 
avail, for we have not at this 
time money enough in Camp to 
answer the commissary's and 
qui* master's accts, much ^^more* 
to pay and advance to the troops. 
Strange conduct tJiisP^ 

The ace* which you have giv^ 
of the sentiments of the people 
respecting my conduct is ex- 
tremely flattering. Pray GodP 
I may continue to deserve them 
'®in the perplex'd and intricate 
situation I stand in. Our inlist- 
ment goes on slowlyf by the re- 
turns last Monday, only 5,917 
men are engaged for the insuing 
campaign; and yet we are told 
that we shall get the number 
wanted as they are only playing 
off, to see what advantages are 
to be made, and whether a 
bounty cannot be extorted either 
from the publick at large, or in- 
dividuals, in case of a draft; 
time only can discover this. I 
doubt the measure exceedingly. 
The fortunate capture of the 
storeship has supplied us with 
flints and many other articles 
we stood in need of — But we 
still have our wants. ''^ We are 
securing our approach to LitcJi- 
more's Point, unable upon any 
principle whatever to account for 
their silence, unless it he to lidl 



7^ S. "less." 

7" S. "Strange conduct this!" 
omitted. 



77 S. "I pray God." 

78 S. "in my perplexed and in- 
tricate situation." 



73 S. Part in Italics omitted. 



* Printed "less" by me. 



f Printed by me "slow. 



30 



us into a fatal security to favour 
some attempt tlxey may have in 
view ahout the time of the great 
change they expect loill take 
place the last of this month. If 
this he the drifty they deceive 
themselves, for, if possible, it has 
increas'd my vigilance, and in- 
duced me to fortify all the ave- 
nues to our camps, to guard 
against any ap)proaches upon 
the ice. 

If the Virginians are icise, 
that arch-traitor to the rights of 
humanity, Lord Dunmore, should 
be instantly crush' d, if it takes 
the force of the xohole Colony to 
do it — other-wise, like a snow- 
ball, in rolling, his army will 
get size — some through fear — 
some through promises — and 
some fro7n* inclination joining 
his standard — but that tvhich 
renders the measure indispensa- 
bly necessary f is, the negros; — 
for if he gets formidable, num- 
bers of them will be tempted to 
join, who will be affraid to do it 
without. I am exceeding happy 
to find that that villain Connolly 
is seized; Ihope if there is any 
thing to convict him, that he will 
meet with the punishment due to 
his demerit and treachery. 



* Printed by me "through." This passage about Lord Dunmore is 
repeated, though not quite in so strong language, in a letter to Richard 
Henry Lee, eleven days later, which is printed by Mr. Sparks, vol. iii. 
p. 21G. 



31 



We impatiently wait /or acct^ 
from Arnold — would to God we 
may hear he is in Quebec — and 
that all Canada is in our pos- 
session. My best respects to Mrs. 
Reed. 

I am, dear sir, yr 

affect^' Hble servt, 
G° WASHINGTON. 

P. S. The small-pox is in 
every jjart of Boston — the sol- 
diers there who have never had 
it, are, tee are told, under in- 
nocidation, and considered as a 
security against any attempt of 
ours — a third ship-load of people 
is come out to Point Shirley. If 
vje escape the small-pox in this 
camp, and the country rotmd 
ahoiU, it lodl be miraculous. 
Every precaution that can be, is 
taken, to guard against this evil, 
both by the Geno'al Court and 
myself. 

G. W n. 



VI. 

Cambridge, 2bth Deer 1775. 
Dear Sir, 

^ Since my last, your favours ^ S. The passages in Italics 
of tlie 7th and 11th are come to omitted. 
hand, as also the '^th ; the first 
last night, the second by Wednes- 
day' s Post; for the several pieces 
of information tJierein contain' d, 
I thank you. 



32 



Notliing new has happened in 
this quarter since my last, except 
the setting in of a severe spell of 
cold iceather, and a considerable 
fall of snow; lohich together have 
interrupted our worh on Litch- 
more^s Point; which otherioise, 
would have been compleated be- 
fore this. At first ice only in- 
tended a bomb battery there, but 
afterwards, constructed two re- 
doubts, in one of which a mortar 
will be placed at a proper sea- 
son — a line of communication 
extends from the point of wood 
this side the Causey, leading on 
to Litchmore's Point, quite up to 
the redoubt. Prom Boston and 
JBunker's Hill both, we have re- 
ceived (without injury, except 
from the first case shoti) an ir- 
regular fire from cannon and 
mortars ever since the 17th, hut 
have returned none except upon 
the ship ; which we soon obliged 
to move off. At the same time 
that I thank you for stopping 
visiters in search of preferment, 
it will give me pleasure to show 
civilities to others of your re- 
commendation. Indeed no gen- 
tleman that is not well known, 
ought to come here, without let- 
ters of introduction as it puts me 
in an awkward situation with re- 
spect to my conduct towards 
them. 

I do not very iceZP under- ®* S. ^'much. 



33 



stand a paragraph in your letter 
which seems to be taken from 
mine to Col Hancock, express- 
ive of the unwillingness of the 
Connecticut troops to be deemed 
Continental. ^"^ If you did not 
misconceive tchat Col Ucmcock 
read — he read what I never 
v:rote ; as there is no expression 
in any of my letters that I can 
either recollegt, or find, that has 
a tendency that way; further 
than their unwillingness to have 
officers of other governments 
mixed in their corps, in which 
they are not singular, as the 
same partiality runs through 
the whole. I have, in some mea- 
sure, anticipated the desires of 
the Connecticut Delegates, by a 
kind of representation to each of 
the New England Grovernments 
of the impracticability (in my 
eyef^ of raising our compliment 
of men by voluntary inlistments, 
and submitting i^ to their con- 
sideration, whether (if the pow- 
ers of Government were suffi- 
ciently coercive) each Town 
should not be called upon for 
a proportionate number of re- 
cruits ; what they will do in the 
matter remains to be known. 
The militia w^li**^ have supplied 
the places of the Connecticut 
Regiments, behave much better 
than I expected,*^ under our 
wants of wood, barracks, {for 



^^ S. Sentence in Italics omitted. 



S. "in my eye" omitted. 



^ S. "it" omitted. 



^ S. "who." 



S. "they would." 



34 



tliey are not yet done,y^ blankets, 
&c. : with these^ and such me/i**^ 
as are re-inlisted I shall hope, 
if they will be vigilant and 
spirited, to give the enemy a 
warm reception if they think 
proper to come out. Our want 
of powder is inconceivable — a 
daily waste, and no supply, ad- 
ministers^ a gloomy prospect. 

I fear the destinatioiv'^ of the 
vessels from your port is so 
generally known, as to defeat 
the end. Two men-of-war {^forty 
(juns)^ it is said, put into New 
York the other day, and were 
■instantly^ ordered out, supposed 
to be for Virginia. 

I am so much indebted for 
the civilities shown Mrs. Wash- 
ington on her journey hither, 
that I hardly know how to go 
about^* to acknowledge them. 
Some of the enclosed (all of 
which I beg the favour of you 
to put into the post office) are 
directed to that end. I shall 
be obliged to you for presenting 
my thanks to the commanding 
officers of the two battalions of 
Phila, for the honours^ done her 
and me, as also to any others 
equally entitled. I very sin- 
cerely offer you the compliments 
of the season, and wish you and 
Mrs. Reed, and your fireside, the 
happy return of a great^ many 
of them, being, dear sir, your 



^'' S. "for they are not yet done" 

omitted. 

^ S. ''men." 

»9 S. "men" omitted. 



«> S. ''present." 

"' S. '' detention/' obviously a 

misprint. 



"2 S. " forty guns" omitted. 
S3 S. "immediately." 



^ S. " to go about" omitted. 



"5 S. "honour." 



S. "great" omitted. 



35 



most obedt and affecte H^le 
servt, 

G° WASHINGTON. 



VII. 

Cambridge, ith Jany 1776. 
Dear Sir 

^ Since my last I have reed ^ S. Passage in Italics omitted. 
yotir obliging favours of the \^ih 
and '22>d ulto. and thank you for 
the articles of intelligence therein, 
contained, as I also do for the 
buttons which accompanied the 
last letter, altho' I had got a set 
better, I think, made at Concord, 
lam exceeding* glad to find that 
things loear a better face in Vir- 
ginia than they did some time 
ago; but I do not think that 
any thing less than y^ life or 
liberty, will free the Colony from 
the effects of Lord Dunmores 
resentments and villainies. 

We are at length favour' d 
with a sight of his Majesty's 
most gracious speech, breathing 
sentiments of tenderness and 
compassion for his deluded 
American subjects; the eccho 
is not yet come to hand, but we 
know what it must be, and as 
Lord North said, and we ought 
to have believed, (and acted ac- 
cordingly,) we now know the 



* Printed by me "exceedingly." 



36 



ultimatum of British justice. 
The speech I send you; a vo- 
lume of them was sent out by 
the Boston gentry, and farcical 
enough, we gave great joy to 
them, {the red coats I mean, y^ ^^ S. "the red 
without knowing or intending omitted, 
it, for on that day, the day 
which gave being to the new 
army, (but before the proclama- 
tion came to hand) we had 
hoisted the Union Flag in com- 
pliment to the United Colonies; 
but behold ! it was received in 
Boston as a token of the deep 
impression the Speech had made 
upon us, and as a signal of sub- 
mission, so we learn^^ by a per- 
son out of Boston last night. 
By this time, I presume, they 
begin to think it strange that 
we have not made a formal sur- 
render of our Lines. Admiral 
Shuldam is arrived at Boston. 
The 55th and greatest^'^ part, if 
not all the 17th regiment are 
also got in there ;^°^ the rest of 
the 5 regiments from Ireland 
were intended for Hallifax and 
Quebec; ^°^those/or the first, have 
arrived there, the others, ice laioxo 
not where they are got to. 

It is easier to conceive than 
to describe the situation of my 
mind for some time past, and 
my feelings under our present 
circumstances; Search the vas^*"^ "^ S. Omitted, 
volumes of history through, and 



coats I mean' 



«9 S. "hear;" and "heard" by 
me. 



S. "the greater." 



"^ S. "arrived." 



"^ S. Sentence in Italics omitted. 



37 



I much question whether a case 
similar to ours is to be found ; 
to wit, to maintain a post against 
the flower of the British troops 
for six months together, without 

"* and at the end of tJiem,^°^ 

to have one army disbanded, and 
another to raise,^°^ within the 
same distance of a reinforced 
enemy; it is too much to at- 
tempt — what may be the final 
issue of the last manouvre, time 
only ca?i tellJ^'' I wish this month 
was well over our heads. The 
same desire of retiring into a 
chimney corner, seized the troops 
of New Hampshire, Rhode Isl- 
and, and Massachusets, (so soon 
as their time expired,) as had 
icork'iF^ upon those of Connec- 
ticut, notwithstanding many of 
them made a tender of their ser- 
vices to continue till the lines 
could be sufficiently strengthen- 
ed. We are now left with a good 
deal less than half-rais'd regi- 
ments, and about five thousand 
militia, who only stand ingaged 
to the middle of this month, 
when, according to custom, they 
will depart, let the necessity of 
their stay be never'^°^ so urgent ; 
thus it is, tliat^"^ for more than 
two months past I have scarcely 
immerged from one difficulty, 
before I have"* plunged into an- 
other. How it will end, God in 
his great goodness will direct ; I 



*<** S. "powder." There is a 
blank line drawn in the original. 
*°^ S. "then." 
"« S. "to be raised." 



^"7 S. "can unfold." 



S. "wrought." 



"9 S. "ever," and by me. 
"•^ S. "it is that" omitted. 



"* S. "been." 



38 

am thankful for his protection to 
this time. We are told that wo 
shall soon get the army corn- 
pleated, but I have been told so 
many things which have never 
come to pass, that I distrust 
every thing. 

I fear your fleet has been so 
long in fitting, and the destina- 
tion of it so well known, that 
the end will be defeated if the 
vessels escape. How is the ar- 
rival of French troops in the 
West Indies, and the hostile ap- 
pearance there, to be reconciled 
with that part of the King's 
speech wherein he assures Par- 
liament "that as well from the 
assurances I have received as 
from the general appearance of 
affairs in Europe, I see no pro- 
bability that the measures which 
you may adopt will be interrupt- 
ed by disputes with any foreign 
power." 

I hope the Congress will not 
think of adjourning at so im- 
portant and critical a juncture 
as this. I wish they would keep 
a watchful eye to New York. 

From Captn Sears' acd'''' (now '" S. ''from the account of Cap- 
here) much is to be apprehended tain Sears." 
from that quarter, "''^l fleet is "* S. The rest of the letter in 
now fitting out at Boston, con- Italics omitted. 
sisting of five transports and tico 
homh-vessels, under cmivoy of the 
Scarborough and Fowey men-of- 
war. Three hundred, some say, 



39 



others more, troops are on board, 
icith Jlat-hottom^ d boats. It is 
whisper' d, as if designedly/, that 
they are intended for New-Port, 
but it is generally believd that 
they are bound either to Long 
Island or Virginia; the other 
transports are taking in water 
and a good deal of bisquet is 
baking, some say for the ship- 
ping to lay in Nantasket Road, 
to be out of the way of ice, whilst 
others thinJc a more important 
move is in agitation; all, how- 
ever, is conjecture. I heartily 
wish you, Mrs. Reed and family , 
the compV^ of the season, in which 
the ladies here and family join ; 
be assured that I am, with sin- 
cere affect"- and regard, 



VIII. 

Cambridge, lith Jany 177G. 
Dear Sir 

The bearer presents an oppor- 
tunity to me of acknowledging 
the receipt of your favour of 
the 30 th ult. (which never came 
to my hands till last night,) and 
if I have not done it before, of 
your other"* of the 23d pre- "* S. ^^ letter.' 
ceding. 

The hints you have commu- ,■ 

nicated from time to time, not 5^ 
only deserve, but do most sin- 
cerely and cordially meet with 



40 



my thanks. You cannot render 
a more acceptable service, nor in 
my estimation give"^ a more "^ S. '^ me." 
convincing proof of your friend- 
ship, than by a free, open, and 
undisguised account of every 
matter relative to myself, or 
conduct. I can bear to hear of 
imputed or real errors ; the man 
who wishes to stand well in the 
opinion of others must do this, 
because he is thereby enabled to 
correct his faults, or remove"'' "" S. " tJie." 
prejudices which are imbibed 
against him ; for this reason, I 
shall thank you for giving me 
the opinions of the world upon 
such points as you know me to 
be interested in; for as I have 
but one capitol object in view, 
I could wish to make my con- 
duct coincide with the wishes of 
mankind as far as I can consist- 
ently. I mean without depart- 
ing from that great line of duty, 
which, though hid under a cloud 
for some time from a peculiarity 
of circumstances, may neverthe- 
less bear a scrutiny. My con- 
stant attention to the great and 
perplexing objects which con- 
tinually rise to my view, absorbs 
all lesser considerations, and in- 
deed, scarcely allows me i<me"" "" S. "time" omitted, 
to reflect that there is such a 
body in existence as the General 
Court of this Colony, but when 
I am reminded of it by a Com- 



41 



mittee; nor can I upon recol- 
lection, discover in what in- 
stances, (I wish they would be 
more explicit,) I have been in- 
attentive to, or slighted them. 
They could not surely conceive 
that there was a propriety in 
unbosoming the secrets of an 
army to them ; that it was ne- 
cessary to ask their opinion of 
throwing up an intrenchment,^^^ *^® S. " or." 
forming a battalion, &c. &c. : it 
must therefore be what I before 
hinted to you, and how to re- 
medy it I hardly know, as I am 
acquainted with few of the mem- 
bers, never go out of my own 
Lines, or^'^^ see any of them in ^^^ S. "nor." 
them. 

I am exceeding^" sorry to hear ^^ S. " exceedingly." 
that your little fleet has been 
shut in by the frost. I hope it 
has sailed e'er this, and given 
you some proof of the utility of 
it, and enabl'd the Congress to 
bestow a little more attention to 
the affairs of this army, which 
suffers exceedingly by their over- 
much business, — or too little at- 
tention to it. — We are now with- 
out any money in our treasury, 
powder in our magazines,^^ arms ^^^ S. "or." 
in our stores. We are without 
a brigadier (the want of M'/i^cA*''* *^^ S. "whom." 
has been twenty times urged) 
engineers, expresses, (though a 
committee has been appointed 
these two months to establish 



42 



^^^ S. ^'discontented officers" 
Italicized by Mr. Sparks. 



them,) and by and by, when we 
shall be called upon to take the 
field, shall not have a tent to 
lay in, — apropos, what is doing 
with mine? 

These are evils but small in 
comparison of those which dis- 
turb my present repose ; our in- 
listments are at a stand ; the 
fears I ever entertained are real- 
iz'd; that is, the discontented 
officers^^^ (for I do not know how 
else to ace* for it) have thrown 
such difficulties or stumbling- 
blocks in the way of recruiting, 
that I no longer entertain a hope 
of compleating the army by vo- 
luntary inlistments, and I see 

no move or likelihood o/ o«c,^^ "■* S. ''of one" omitted, 
to do it by other means. In the 
two last weeks we have inlisted 
hut ab* 1000 men, whereas, I 
was confidently hid^^^ to believe, 
by all the officers I conversed 
with, that we should by this 
time have had the regiments 
nearly compleated. Our total 
number upon paper amounts to 
ab* 10,500 ; but as a large por- 
tion of these are return' d ^^''not 
join'd, I never expect to receive 
them; as an ineffectual order 
has once issued to call them in, 
another is now gone forth, pe- 
remptorily requiring all officers, 
under pain of being cashier' d, 
and recruits as^^'^ being treated 
as deserters, to join their re- 



^25 S. ''led," and so by me. 



S. "not joined" Italicized. 



'^^ S. "of." 



43 



spective regiments by the first 
day of next month, that I may 
know my real strength ; but if 
my fears are not imaginary, I 
shall have a dreadful ace* of the 
ad vane' d month's pay. In con- 
sequence of the assurances given 
and my expectation of having at 
least men enough Inlisted to 
defend our lines, to which may 

be added my unwillingness o/'^ ^^ S. " to burthen." 
burthening the cause with unne- 
cessary expence, no relief of 
militia has been order'd in to 
supply the places of those who 
are releas'd from their ingage- 
ment to-morrow, and on^^^whom *^ S. "as to." 
(tho' many have promised to 
continue out the month) there 
is no security of their stay. 

Thus am I situated with re- 
spect to men, — with regard to 
arms, I am yet worse of: — be- 
fore the dissolution of the old 
army, I issued an order directing 
three judicious men of each bri- 
gade to attend, review, and ap- 
praise the good arms of every 
regiment — and finding a very 
great unwillingness in the men 
to part with their arms, at the 
same time not having it in my 
power to pay them for the months 
of Nov!" and Dec'', I threat' ned 
severely, that every soldier who 

crtrriVrZ'^" away his firelock with- "° S. "should carry, 
out leave, should never receive 
pay for those months; — ^yet so 



44 



many have been carried of, partly 
by stealth, but chiefly as con- 
demned, that we have not at 
this time 100 guns in the stores, 
of all that have been taken in 
the prize-ship and from the sol- 
diery, notwithstanding our regi- 
ments are not half compleat : — 
at the same time I am told, and 
believe it, that to restrain the 
lulistment to men with arms, 
you will get but few of the 
former, and still fewer of the 
latter which would be good for 
anything. How to get furnished, 
I know not — I have applied to 
this and the neighbouring colo- 
nies, but with what success, time 
only can tell. The reflection 
upon my situation and that of 
this army, produces many an 
M?ieasy"^ hour, when all around ^^' S. "unhappy." 
me are wrapped in sleep. Few 
people know the predicament we 
are in, on a thousand accounts — 
fewer still will believe, if any 
disaster happens to these Lines, 
from what causes*"^ it flows. I 
have often thought how much 
happier I should have been, if, 
instead of accepting o/"^ a com- 
mand under such circumstances, 
I had taken my musket upon 
my shoulder, and entered the 
ranks; — or if I could have jus- 
tified the measure to posterity 
and my own conscience, had 
retired to the back country, and 



S. "cause," and so by me. 



^^ S. "of" omitted. 



45 



lived in a wigwam. If I shall 
be able to rise superior to these, 
and many other difficulties which 
might be innumerated, I shall 
most religiously believe that the 
finger of Providence is in it, to 
blind the eyes of our enemys ; — 
for surely, if we get well throu 
this month, it must be for want 
of their knowing the disadvan- 
tages we labour under. 

Could I have foreseen the dif- 
ficulties which have come upon 
us — could I have known that 
such a backwardness would have 
been discovered ?Vi"* the old ^^ S. ''among, 
soldiers to the service, all the 
generals upon earth should not 
have convinced me of the pro- 
priety of delaying an attack upon 
Boston till this time. When it 
can now be attempted, I will 
not undertake to say, — but this 
much, I will answer for, that no 
opportunity can present itself 
earlier than my wishes — but as 
this letter discloses some Inte- 
resting truths, I shall be some- 
what uneasy till I hear it gets 
to your hand, although the con- 
veyance is thought safe. 

We made a successful attempt, 
a few nights ago, upon the houses 
near Bunker's Hill; a party un- 
der Majr Knowlton crossed upon 
the mill-damn (the night being 
dark), and set fire to and burnt 
down Eight out of 14 which 



46 



were standing, and which we 
found they were daily pulling 
down for fuel — five soldiers and 
the wife of one of them inhabit- 
ing one of the houses were 
brought of prisoners ; another 
soldier was killed; none of ours 
hurt. 

Having undoubted informa- 
tion of the Imbarkation of 
troops (somewhere from three 
to 500) at Boston, and being 
convinced that they were de- 
signed either for'^^^ New York ^^^ S. "the." 
Government (from whence we 
have some very disagreeable 
accts of the conduct of the To- 
ries) or Virginia, I dispatched 
Genl Lee a few days ago in 
order to secure the city of New 
York from falling into their 
hands, as the consequences of 
such a blow might prove fatal 
to our interests. He is also to 
inquire a little into the conduct 
of the Long Islanders, and such 
others as have by their conduct 
and declarations proved them- 
selves Inimical to the common 
cause. To effect these purposes, 
he is to raise Volunteers in Con- 
necticut, and call upon the troops 
of New Jersey, if not contrary 
to any order of Congress. 

By a ship just arrived at 
Portsmouth, (New Hampshire) 
we have London prints to the 
2d of NovJ", containing the ad- 



47 



dresses of Parliament, which 
contoMi"^ little more than a re- 
petition of the speech, with as- 
surances of standing by his Ma- 
jesty with lives and fortunes. 
The Capt^s (for there were three 
or four of them passengers) say 
that we have nothing to expect 
but the most vigorous exertions 
of administration, who have a 
dead majority upon all questions, 
although the Duke of Grafton 
and General Conway have joined 
the minority, as also the Bishop 
of Peterborough. These cap- 
tains affirm confidently that the 
5 regiments from Ireland cannot 
any of them have arrived at 
Hallifax, inasmuch as thaf^'^ by 
a violent storm on the 19th of 
October, the transports were 
forced (in a very distress/ul^^^ 
condition) into Milford Haven 
( TFaZes),"^ and were not in a con- 
dition to put to sea when they 
left London, and that the wea- 
ther has been such since, as to 
prevent heavy-loaded ships from 
making a passage by this time. 
One or two transports, they add, 
were thought to be lost; but 
these arrived some considerable 
time ago at Boston, with 3 com- 
panies of the 17th regiment. 

Mr. Sayre has been committed 
to the Tower, upon the informa- 
tion of a certain Lieutnt or Ad- 
jutant Richardson (formerly of 



"7 S. ''that" omitted. 



»^ S. "distressed." 



"3 S. "Wales" omitted. 



48 



yr city) for treasonable practices 
— an intention of seizeing his 
Majesty, and possessing himself 
of the Tower, it is said in the 
crisis, — but is admitted to bail 
himself in £500, and two sure- 
tys in £250 each. What are 
the conjectures of the wise ones 
with you, o/^*° the French ^*° S. "as to." 
armament in the West Indies ? 
But previous to this, is there 
any certainty of such an arma- 
ment? The captains, who are 
sensible men, heard nothing of 
this when they left England — 
nor does there appear any ap- 
prehensions on this score in any 
of the measures or speeches of 
administration. I should think 
the Congress will not — ought 
not to adjourn at this important 
crisis; but it is highly necessary, 
when I am at the end of a*" second "* S. "the." 
sheet of paper, that I should ad- 
journ my aec* of matters to an- 
other letter. I shall, therefore, 
in Mrs. Washington's name, 
thank you for yi' good wishes 

towards her, and with /ier"^ com- ^*^ S. "her" omitted, 
plimts added to mine to Mrs. 
Reed, &c., conclude, d^' sir, yr 
sincere and affecte serv*, 



49 



IX. 

Cambkidgb, 23d Jan. 1776. 
Dear Sir 

Real necessity compells me to 
ask you whether I may enter- 
tain any hopes of your returning 
to my family ? If you can make 
it convenient, and will hint the 
matter to Col. Harrison, I dare 
venture to say that Congress 
will make it agreeable to you in 
every shape they can. My busi- 
ness increases very fast, and my 

distresses for want of you a?orj^**^ **^ S. "increase with it. 
with it. Mr. Harrison is the 
only gentleman of my family 
that can afford me the least as- 
sistance in writing. He and Mr. 
Moylan, whose time must now 
be solely imployed in his de- 
partment of commissary, have 
heretofore afforded me their aid, 
and I have hinted to them, in 
consequence of what you signi- 
fied in some former letter, that 
each (as they have really had a 
great deal of trouble), should 
receive one-third of your pay, 
reserving the other third, con- 
trary to your desire, for your- 
self: — my distress and embar- 
rassments are in a way of being 
very considerably increased by 
an occurrence in Virginia, which 
will, I fear, compel Mr. Harri- 
son to leave me, or suffer con- 
siderably by his stay. He has 
4 



50 



wrote,^** however, by the last 
post, to see"^ if his return cannot 
be dispensed with. If he should 
go, I shall really be distressed 
beyond measure, as I know no 
persons able to supply your 
places (in this part of the world) 
with whom I would chuse to 
live in unbounded confidence. 
^*^In sJiort, for want of an ac- 
quaintance with the people hith- 
er ward, I know of none which 
appear to me qualified for the 
office of Secretary. 

The business, as I hinted to 
you before, is considerably in- 
creased by being more compre- 
hensive, and at this time (""from 
the great changes which have 
and are happening every day) 
perplexed; so that you would 
want a good writer and a me- 
thodical man, as an assistant, or 
copying clerk; — such an one I 
have no doubt will be allowed, 
and the choice I leave to your- 
self, as he should be a person 
in whose integrety you can con- 
fide, and on whose capacity, care, 
and method, you can rely. At 
present, my time is so much 
taken up at my desk, that I am 
obliged to neglect many other 
essential parts of my duty : — it 
is absolutely necessary, there- 
fore, for me"^ to have persons 
that can think for me, as well 
as execute orders. ^*^This it is 



"* S. 
"5 S. 



'written." 
'ascertain.' 



"^ S. Sentence in Italics omitted. 



"=' S. Transposed. 



'*^ S. "for me" omitted. 



S. Passage in Italics omitted. 



51 



that pains me when I think of 
Mr. White's expectation of com- 
ing into my family if an open- 
ing happens. I can derive no 
earthly assistance from such a 
man, and my friend Baylor is 
much such another, although as 
good and as obliging a person 
as any in the world. As it may 
be necessary that the pay of the 
under Secretary should be fixed, 
that you may, if you incline to 
return and should engage one, 
know what to promise him, I 
have wrote^° to Col. Harrison 
and Mr. Lynch on this subject. 
'^^^The interruption of the post 
has prevented the receipt of any 
letters from the southward since 
this day week, so that we have 
but little knowledge of what is 
passing in that quarter. The 
unfortunate repidse of our troops 
at Quebec — the death of the brave 
and much to be lamented Gen^ 
Montgomerie, and wounding of 
Col. Arnold, will, I fear, give a 
very unfavourable turn to our 
affairs in that quarter, as I have 
no opinion at all of W- — r's en- 
terprising genius. 

Immediately upon the receipt 
of the unfortunate intelligence, 
and General Schuyler's intima- 
tion of his having no other de- 
pendance than upon me for men, 
I address' d Massachusetts, Con- 
necticut, and iV". Hampshire, (in 



^^ S. "written." 

*" S. The rest of the letter in 
Italics omitted. 



\ 



52 



behalf of the Continent) for a 
regiment each, to he marched 
forewith into Canada, and 
there continued, if need he, till 
the 1st of Jan'y, upon the same 
establishment of those raising for 
these Lines. It was impossible 
to spare a man from hence, as 
we want Eight or Nine thousand 
of our Establishment, and are 
obliged to depend upon militia 
for the defence of our loorJcs : 
equally improper did it appear 
to me to wait (situated as our 
affairs were) for a requisition 
from Congress, after several 
days' debate, perhaps, when in 
the meanwhile all might be lost: 
— the urgency of the case, there- 
fore, must appologize to Congress 
for my adoption of this measure. 
Governor Trumbull, indeed, an- 
ticipated my request, for he and 
his Council of Safety had voted 
a regiment before my request 
had reached him. The Gen^ 
Court here have also voted an- 
other, and I have no doubt of 
New Hampshire's doing the like, 
and that the whole ivill soon be 
on their march. I have this in- 
stant received a letter from New 
Hampshire, in answer to mine, 
informing me that they have fully 
complied with my request of a 
regiment, appointed the field- 
officers, and will have the whole 
in motion as soon as possible. 



53 



Colonel Warner, and others, we 
are told, are already on their 
march, so that it is to be htyped, 
if these bodies have hut a good 
head, our affairs may still he 
retrieved in Canada before the 
King's troops can get reinforced. 
They are 'pulling down the 
houses in Boston as fast as pos- 
sible, and ice have lately acc^^ 
from thence which it is said may 
be relied on, that General Clin- 
ton is actually sailed from thence 
with a detachment (iio accounts 
making it more than 500) for 
the Southward, some say Vir- 
ginia, others New Yorlc, but aU 
is conjecture. Whether this is 
the fleet that has been making 
up for some time at Nantasket, 
or anotJier, I cannot with cer- 
tainty say. In my last, I in- 
formed you, I think of the expe- 
dition I had sent General Lee 
on to New York. Should Clin- 
ton steer his course thither, I 
hope he will meet with a for- 
midable and proper reception. 
I shaE conclude with informing 
you, that we should have had a 
formidable work on Litchmore^ s 
Point long ago, if it had not 
been for the frost, and that if 
Congress mean that we should 
do anything this winter, no time 
must he lost in forwarding pow- 
der. I have ordered in militia 
to take advantage of circum- 



54 



stances, but I see no appearance 
as yet of a bridge. I am with 
the greatest truth and sincerity, 
Dear Sir, 
Yours affectionately, 
G" WASHINGTON. 



X. 



Cambbidge, 31s< of Jan. 

My dear Sir, 

In my last Q^hlate not recol- 
lected) by Mr. John Adams, I 
communicated my distresses to 
you, on account of my want of 
your assistance. Since this,^^ I 
have been under some concern 
at doing ofit^^ lest it should pre- 
cipitate your return before you 
were ripe^^^ for it, or bring on a 
final resignation, which I am 
unwilling to think of, if your 
return can be made convenient 
and agreeable. True it is, that 
from a variety of causes, my 
business has been, and now is, 
multiplied and perplexed, whilst 
the means of execution is^^ 
greatly contracted. This may 
be a cause for my wishing you 
here, but no inducement to your 
coming, if you hesitated before. 

I have now to thank you for 
your favors "''o/ the 16th, IQth, 
and 20th inst., and for the seve- 
ral articles of intelligence which 
they convey. The account given 



"^ S. "date not recollected'' 
omitted. 



"^ S. " I have been since." 
'^ S. " having done it." 
''' S. "are ready." 



S. 



"7 S. Omitted. 



55 



of your Navy, at the same time 
that it is exceedingly unfavour- 
able to our wishes, is a little 
provoking to me, inasmuch as it 
has deprived us of a"^ necessary 
article which otherwise would 
have been sent hither, but which 
a kind of fatality, I fear, will 
forever deprive us of. In the 
instance of New York, we are 
not to receive a particle of what 
you expected would be sent from 
thence — the time and season is 
passing away, as I believe the 
troops in Boston also* will, be- 
fore the season for taking the 
field arrives. I dare say, they 
are preparing for it now, as we 
have undoubted intelligence of 
Clinton's leaving Boston with a 
number of troops ^'^(% different 
accounts, from four or five hun- 
dred to 10 companies of grena- 
diers, and nine of light infantry) 
believed to be design' d for Long 
Island or New York, in conse- 
quence of assurances from Go- 
vernor Tryon of a powerful aid 
from the Tories there. 

I hope my countrymen (of 
Virginia) will rise superior to 
any losses the whole Navy of 
Great Britain can bring on them, 
and that the destruction of Nor- 
folk, and threatened^^^ devasta- 
tion of other places, will have 



S. "necessary articles." 



"" S. Sentence in Italics omitted. 



S. "attempted. 



* "Also" omitted by me. 



66 



no other effect than to unite the 
whole country in one indissolu- 
ble hand}^^ against a Nation 
which seems to he lost to every 
sense of virtue, and those feelings 
which distinguish a civilized peo- 
ple from the most barbarous sa- 
vages.* A few more of such 
flaming arguments as were ex- 
hibited at Falmouth and Nor- 
folk, added to the sound doctrine 
and unanswerable reasoning con- 
tained in the pamphlet "Com- 
mon Sense," will not leave 
numbers at a loss to decide 
upon the propriety of a sepera- 
tion. 

By a letter of the 21st inst. 
from*^- Wooster, I find that Ar- 
nold was continuing the blockade 
of Quebec the 19 th, which under 
the heaviness of our loss there, 
is a most favourable circum- 
stance, and exhibits a fresh 
proof of Arnold's ability and 
perseverance in the midst of 
difficulties ; the reinforcement 
ordered to him, will, I hope, 
compleat the entire conquest of 
Canada this winter ; and ^^but 
for the loss of the gallant chief 
and his brave followers, I should 
think the rebuff rather favour- 



^"^ S. "bond;" and the sentence 
in Italics omitted. 



*«=> S. "General Wooster." 



8. "except for." 



* This sentence is stronger than any other I find in the public or private 
letters. It seems to me of value, as showing what the calm, deliberate, 
loyal Washington, the reluctant rebel against Imperial authority, at so early 
a date as January, 1776, thought and wrote of the Mother country and its 
ministers. 



57 



able than otherwise; for had the 
country been subdued by such 
a handful of men, 'tis more than 
probable that it would have been 
left to the defence of a few, and 
rescued from us in the Spring : — 
our eyes will now not only be 
open to the importance of hold- 
ing it, but the numbers which 
are requisite to that end. ^^In 
return for your two heef and 
poultry vessels from New York, 
I can acquaint you that our 
Commodore Manley has just 
taken two ships from White 
Haven to Boston, with coal and 
potatoes, and sent them into 
Plymouth, and fought a tender 
(^close hy the light-house where 
the vessels were taken}, long 
enough to give his prizes time to 
get off, in short, till she thought 
it best to quit the combat, and 
lie to move of from the men-of- 
war, tchich were spectators of 
this scene. In my last, I think 
I inform' d you of my sending 
General Lee to New York, with 
intention to secure the Tories 
of^^ Long Island, &c., and to 
prevent,^^ if possible, the king's 
troops from making a lodgment 
there ; but I fear the Congress 
will be duped by the represent- 
ations from that Government, or 
yield to them in such a manner 
as to become marplots to the 
expedition; — the city seems to 



^"^ S. Sentences in Italics omit- 
ted. 



^^ S. "on." 

^•^ S. "preventing.' 



58 

be entirely under the govern- 
ment of Tryon, and the Captain 
of the man-of-war. 

Mrs. Washington desires ^^7/ ler g_ u^^^ ^^ thank." 
will thank you for the picture 
sent her. Mr. Campbell, whom 
I never saw to my knowledge, 
has made a very formidable 
figure of the Commander-in- 
chief, giving him a sufficient 
portion of terror in his counte- 
nance. Mrs. Washington also 
desires her compliments to Mrs. 
Reed, &c., as I do, and with the 
sincerest regard and affection, I 
remain, dear sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 
G" WASHINGTON. 



XL 

Cambridge, February 1, 1776. 
My dear Sir, 

I had wrofe'^^ the letter here- ^^^ S. "written." 
with enclosed, before your favour 
of the 21st came to hand. The 
account given of the behaviour 
of the men under General Mont- 
gomerie is exactly consonant to 
the opinion I have* form'd of 
these people, and such as they 
will exhibit abundant proofs of 
in similar cases whenever called 
upon. Place them behind a 
parapet, — a breast-work, — stone 

* Printed by me "had." 



59 



wall, — or any thing that will 
afford them shelter, and from 
their knowledge of a fire-lock, 
they will give a good account of 
their^^ enemy; but I am as well ^^^ S. "the." 
convinced as if I had seen it, 
that they will not march boldly 
up to a work, — or stand exposed 
in a plain, — and yet, if we are 
furnished with the means, and 
the weather will afford us a pas- 
sage and we can get in men, (for 
these three things are necessary) 
something must be attempted. 
The men must be brought to 
face danger ; they cannot allways 
have an Intrenchment or a stone 
wall as a safeguard or shield, 
and it is of essential importance 
that the troops in Boston should 
be destroyed if possible, before 
they can be reinforced or re- 
move. — This is clearly my opin- 
ion, — whether circumstances will 
admit of the tryal, and if tryed, 
what will be the event^''^ the all- 
wise Disposer of them}''^ alone 
can tell. 

^''^The evils arising from short, 
or even any limited Inlistment of 
the troops, are greater, and more 
extensively hurtful than any per- 
son {not an eye-witness to them,) 
can form any idea of. It takes 
you two or three months to hring 
new men in any tolerable degree 
acquainted with their duty; it 
takes a longer time to bring a 



'7° S. "result." 
^'^ S. "events." 

"■'^ S. The rest of this letter in 
Italics omitted. 



60 



people of the temper and genius 
of these into such a subordinate 
way of thinking as is necessary 
for a soldier; — before this is ac- 
comjylished, the time approaches 
for their dismissal, and you are 
beginning to mahe interest with 
them for their ccnitinuance for an- 
other limitted period ; {71 the doing 
of which you are ohlig'd to relax 
in your discipline, in order as it 
were to curry favour with them, 
by ivhich means the latter part 
of your time is employ' d in un- 
doing ivhat the first teas accom- 
plishing, and instead of having 
men always ready to take ad- 
vantage of circumstances, you 
must govern your movements by 
the circumstances of your Inlist- 
ment. This is not all; by the 
time you have got men armid 
and equip' d, the difficulty of 
doing ivhich is beyond descrip- 
tion, and with every new sett you 
have the same trouble to encoun- 
ter, toithout the means of doing 
it. — In short, the disadvantages 
are so great and apparent to me, 
that I am convinced, uncertain 
as the continuance of the war is, 
that the Congress had better de- 
termine to give a bounty of 20, 
30, or even 40 Dollars to every 
man icho tcill Inlist for the whole 
time, be it long or short. I in- 
tend to write my sentiments fully 



61 



on this subject to Congress the 
first leizure time I have. 

I am exceeding sorry to hear 
that Arnold's wound is in an 
unfavourahle way ; his letter to 
me of the 14:th ulto. says nothing 
of this. I fancy Congress have 
given some* particular direction 
respecting Genl Prescot. I think 
they cnujhtfor mare reasons than 
one. 

I am sincerely and affection- 
ately, your most obedient servant, 
G° WASHINGTON. 

Be so good as to send the en- 
closed letter of Randolph's to the 
Post- Office. 



XII. 

Cambbidge, Febr 10, 1776. 
My Dear Sir 

*''^ Tour obliging favours of the ^^^ S. Sentence in Italics omitted . 
28<A ult. and Xst inst. are now 
before me, and claim my par- 
ticular thanks for the polite at- 
tention you pay to my wishes in 
an early and regular communi- 
cation of what is passing in your 
quarter. 

If, my dear sir, you conceive 
that I took anything wrong or 
amiss that was conveyed in any 
of your former letters, you are 
really mistaken; I only meant 



* "Some" omitted by me. 



62 



to convince you that nothing 
would give me more real satis- 
faction than to know the senti- 
ments which are entertained of 
me by the publick, whether they 
be favourable or otherwise ; and 
urged as a reason, that the man 
who wished to steer clear of 
shelves and rocks, must know 
where they lay. I know — hut 
to declare it, unless to a friend, 
may he an argument of vanity^''* *^* S. Transposed. 
— the integrety of my own heart. 
I know the unhappy predicament 
I stand in. I know that much is 
expected of me. I know that with- 
out men, without arms, without 
ammunition, without any thing 
fit for the accommodation of a 
soldier, that little is to be done, 
— and, w}iic¥^^ is mortifying, I *^^ S. ''what." 
know that I cannot stand justi- 
fied to the world, without ex- 
posing my own weakness, and 
injuring the cause by declaring 
my wants, which I am deter- 
mined not to do, further than 
unavoidable necessity brings 
every man acquainted with ym. 
If, under these disadvantages, 
I am able to keep above water, 

(as it werey^^ in the esteem of ^"^ S. "as it were" omitted, 
mankind, I shall feel myself 
happy; but if, from the unknown 
peculiarity of my circumstances, 
I suffer in the opinion of the 
world, I shall not think you 
take the freedom of a friend, if 



63 



you conceal tlie reflections that 
may be cast upon nay conduct. 
My own situation fceW" so irk- 
some to me at times, that if I 
did not consult the publick good 
more than my own tranquility I 
should long e're this have put 
every thing to"^ the cast of a 
Dye. So far from my having 
an army of 20,000 men, well 
armed, &c., I have been here 
with less than one-half of /<,"^ 
including sick, furloughed, and 
on command ; and those neither 
armed or cloathed as they should 
be. In short, my situation has 
been such that I have been 
oblig'd to use art to conceal it 
from my own officers. 

^^The Congress, as yoxi ob- 
serve, expect, I believe, thai I 
should do more than others, — 
for ivhilst they compel me to In- 
list men without a bounty, they 
give 40 to others, which loill, I 
expect, put a stand to our Inlist- 
ments; for notwithstanding all 
the publicTc virtue which is 
ascrib'd to these people, there is 
no Nation under the sun, {that I 
ever came across) pay greater 
adoration to money than they do 
— I am, pleas' d to find that your 
Battalions are cloathed and look 
tcell, and that they are filing of 
for Canada — I wish I could say 
that the troops here luid altered 
much in Dress or appearance. 



'■" S. 



"« S. 



on. 



''^ S. " that number." 



S. Passage in Italics omitted 



64 



Our regiments are little more 
than half compleat, and recruit- 
ing nearly at a stand — In all my 
letters I fail not to mention of 
Tents, and now perceive that no- 
tice is taken of y^ application. 
I have been convinced, by Gene- 
ral Howe's conduct, that he has 
either been very ignorant of our 
situation (which I do not believe,^ 
or that lie has received positive 
orders (which, IthinJc, is natural 
to conclude) not to put anything 
to the hazard till his reinforce- 
ments arrive; — otherwise there 
has been a time since the first of 
December, that we must have 
fought like men to have main- 
tained these Lines, so great in 
their extent. The party to Blin- 
ker's HiU^^ had some good and 
some bad men engaged in it. 
One or two Courts have been 
held on the conduct of part of 
^^Ht: — to be plain, these people 
— ^^among friends — are not to 
be depended upon, if exposed; 
and any man will fight well, if 
he thinks himself in no danger 
— I do not apply this to these 
people — I suppose it to be the 
case with all raw and undisci- 
plined troops. 

You may rely upon it, that 
transports left Boston six weeks 
ago with troops ; where they are 
gone to (unless drove* to the 



^«i S. "sent to Bunker's Hill." 



i«^ S. "them." 

*®^ S. " among friends" omitted. 



* Printed by me *' observe" — a misprint. 



65 



West Indies) I know not. You 
may also rely upon General 
Clinton's sailing from Boston 
about 3 weeks ago, with about 
four or five hundred men — his 
destination I am also a stranger 
to. I am sorry to hear of the 
failures you speak of from 
France; but why will not Con- 
gress forward part of the powder 
made in your province? They 
seem to look upon this as the 
season for action, but will not 
furnish the means, — But I will 
not blame them — I dare say the 
demands upon them are greater 
than they can supply. The 
cause must be starved till our 
resources are greater, or more 
certain within ourselves. 

With respect to myself, I 
have never entertained an Idea 
of an accommodation since I 
heard of the measures which 
were adopted in consequence of 
the Bunker's Hill fight. The 
King's speech has confirmed the 
sentiments I entertained upon 
the news of that aS'air, — and if 
every man was of my mind, the 
ministers of Gr. B. should know 
in a few words upon what issue 
the cause should be put. I 
would not be deceived by artful 
declarations or specious pre- 
tences ; nor would I be amused 
by unmeaning propositions ; but 
in open, undisguised, and manly 



66 



terms, proclaim our wrongs and 
our resolutions to be redressed. 
I would fell them that we had 
born much — that we had long 
and ardently sought for recon- 
ciliation upon honourable terms 
— that it had been denied us — 
that all our attempts after peace 
had proved abortive, and had 
been grossly misrepresented — 
that we had done everything 
that could be expected from the 
best of subjects — that the spirit 
of freedom beat^^ too high in us 
to submit to slavery — and that 
if nothing else would satisfie a 
Tyrant and his diabolical min- 
istry, we were determined to 
shake of all connexions with a 
state so unjust and unnatural. 
This I would tell them, not un- 
der covert, but in words as clear 
as the sun in its meridian bright- 
ness. 

I observe what you say in 
respect to the ardour of chim- 
ney-corner Her OS. I am glad 
their zeal is in some measure 
abated, because if circumstances 
will not permit us to make an 

attempt upon B , or if it 

should be made and fail, we 
shall not appear altogether so 
culpable. I entertain the same 
opinion of the attempt now 
which I have ever done — I be- 
lieve an assault will be attended 
with considerable loss, — and I 



67 



believe it would succeed, if the 
men should behave well ; with- 
out it, unless there is equal bad 
behaviour on the other side we 
cannot. As to an attack upon 

B Hill (unless it could be 

carried by surprize) the loss I 
conceive would be greater in 
proportion than at Boston ; and 
if a defeat should foUow, would 
be discouraging to the men, but 
highly animating if crown' d 
with success — Great good or 
great evil would consequently 
result from it, — ^^it is quite a 
different thing to what yon left, 
being hy odds the strongest fort- 
ress they possess, both in rear 
and front. 

The Congress having ordered 
all captures to be tried in the 
Courts of Admiralty of the dif- 
ferent governments to which 
they are sent, and some irrecon- 
cilable difference arising between 
the resolves of Congress, and the 
law of this Colony respecting 
the proceedings or something or 
another^^^ which always happens 
to procrastinate business here, 
has put a total stop to the tryals, 
to the no small injury of the 
publick as well as great griev- 
ance of individuals. Whenever 
a condemnation shall take place, 
I shall not be unmindful of your 
advice respecting the hulls, &c. 
Would to Heaven the plan you 



'^* S. Sentence in Italics omitted. 



'^ S. "or another" omitted. 



68 



speak of for obtaining arms may 
succeed — the acquisition would 
be great, and give fresh life and 
vigour to our measures, '^'^as ^^^ S. Omitted. 
would the arrival you speah of; 
our expectations are kept alive, 
and if we can keep ourselves so, 
and'^ spirits up another sum- 
mer, I have no fears of wanting 
the needful after that. 

^^^As the number of our In- 
listed men were too small to un- 
dertake any offensive operation, 
if the circumstances of weather, 
&c. should favour, I ordered in 
(by apyplication to this Govt, 
Connecticut and New Hamp- 
shire) as many regiments of 
militia as would enable us to 
attempt something in some man- 
ner or other — they were to have 
been here by the first of the month, 
but only a few straggling compa- 
nies are yet come in. The Bay 
towards Roxhury has beefi froze 
up once or twice pretty hard, and 
yesterday single persons might 
have crossed, I believe, from 
Litchmore's Point, by picking 
Ms way : — a thaw, I fear, is 
again approaching. We have 
had the most laborious piece of 
work at Litchmore's Point, on 
acct of the frost, that ever you 
saw. We hope to get it finished 
on Sunday. It is within as com- 
manding a distance of Boston 
as Dorchester Hill, though of a 



S. '''' our'^ inserted. 



^^ S. Passage in Italics omitted. 



69 



different part — Our vessels now 
and then pick up a prize or two. 
Our Commodore (Manley) was 
very near being catclied about 
8 days ago, but happily escaped 
with^''" vessel and crew, after 
running"* ashore, scuttling, and 
defending her. I recollect no- 
thing else worth giving you the 
trouble of, unless you can be 
amused by reading a letter and 
poem addressed to me by Mrs. 
or'^'' Miss Phillis Wheatley. In 
searching over a parcel of papers 
the other day, in order to de- 
stroy such as were useless, I 
brought it to light again : — at 
first with a view of doing justice 
to her great"^^^ poetical genius, I 
had a great mind to publish the 
poem, but not knowing whether 
it might not be considered rather 
as a mark of my own vanity than 
as a compliment to her, I laid it 
aside, till I came across it again 
in the manner just mentioned. 
I congratulate you on your elec- 
tion, although I consider it the 
coup-de-grace to my expectation 
of ever seeing you resident in 
this camp again.'^^ I have only 
to regret the want of you, if 
that should be the case, and I 
shall do it more feelingly as I 
have experienced the good effects 
of your aid. — I am, with Mrs. 
Washington's compliments to 



*9° S. "his vessels." 

"* S. "the former ashore." 



^8" S. "Mrs. or" omitted. 



193 S. "great" omitted. 



S. " with me, this campaign." 



70 



Mrs. Reed, and ray best respects 
added, '^^ dear sir, 

Your most obedient and affec- 
tionate humble servant, 

G. W. 



*9s S. ''added" omitted. 



XIII. 



Cambridge, February 2Wi, 1776. 
Dear Sir, 

**J. line or two from yon by 
Colonel Bull, which came to 
hand last evening, is the only 
letter I have received from yon 
since the 21st January — this 
added to my getting none from 
any other correspondent south- 
ward, leads me to apprehend 
some miscarriage. I am to ob- 
serve, though, that the Satur- 
day's post is not yet arrived, — 
by that I may possibly get letters. 
We have, under as^^-' many dif- 
ficulties, perhaps, (on account 
of hard frozen ground,) as ever 
working parties engaged, com- 
pleated our work on Litchmore's 
Point ; we have got some heavy 
pieces of ordinance placed there, 
two platforms fixed for mortars, 
and every thing but tlie thiivf^ 
ready for any offensive operation. 
Strong guards are now mounted 
there, and at Cobble Hill. 
About ten days ago, the severe 
freezing weather formed some 
pretty strong ice from Dorches- 



S. Passage in Italics omitted. 



197 g "^e have, under many 
difiiculties, on account of hard 
frozen ground, completed our 
work on Litchmore's Point." 



'3^ S. "but the thing" omitted. 



71 



ter to Boston Nock, and from 
Roxbury to the Common. This 
I thought (knowing the ice could 
not last) a favourable opportu- 
nity to make an assault upon 
the troops in town. I proposed 
it in council; but behold I though 
we had been waiting all the year 
for this favourable event, the 
enterprise was thought too dan- 
gerous ! Perhaps it was — per- 
haps the irksomeness of my 
situation led me to undertake 
more than could be warranted 
by prudence. I did not think 
so, and am sure yet that the 
enterprise, if it had been under- 
taken with resolution, must have 
succeeded; without it, any would 
fail; but it is now at an end, 
and I am preparing to take post 
on Dorchester"" to try if the '^ S. "Heights." 
enemy will be so kind as to 
come out to us. Ten regiments 
of militia, you must know, had 
come in to strengthen my hands 
for offensive measures; but what 

I have 7ie?-e^*' said respecting the '^ S. "here" omitted, 
determinations in council, and 
possessing of Dorchester Point, 
is spoken under the rose. 

March Zd, 1776. 
^^ The foregoing was intended ^^ S. Omitted. 
for another conveyance, hut be- 
ing hurried with some other mat- 
ters, and not able to complete it, 
it wa's delayed ; since which your 



72 



favors of the 28th January, and 
1st and 8 th of February, are 
come to hand. For the agree- 
able account contained in one of 
them of your progress in the 
manufacture of powder, and 
prospect of getting arms, I am 
obliged to you, as there is some 
consolation in knowing that 
these useful articles will supply 
the wants of some part of the 
Continental troops, although I 
feel too sensibly the mortification 
of having them withheld from 
me — Congress not even thinking 
it necessary to take the least 
notice of my application for 
these things. 

I hope in a few nights to be 
in readiness to take post on 
Dorchester, ^^ as we are using ^'■^ S. "Point." 
every means in our power to 
provide materials for this pur- 
pose, the ground being so hard 
froze^yet, that we cannot in- ^"' S. "frozen." 
trench, and therefore are obliged 
to depend entirely upon chanda- 
liers, fascines, and screwed hay 
for our redoubts. It is expected 
that this work will bring on an 
action between the King's troops 
and ours. 

General Lee's expedition to 
New York was founded upon 
indubitable evidence of General 
Clinton's being on the point of 

sailing — no jjluce^^* so likely for '** S. "was so likely, 
his destination as New York, 



73 



nor^^ no place where a more ^^ S. "and." 
capitol blow could be given to 

the interests of America ^^thaa ^°'' S. "than there" omitted. 
there. Common prudence, there- 
fore, dictated the necessity of 
preventing an evil which might 
have proved irremediable, had 
it happened, but I confess to 
you honestly, I had no idea of 
running the Continent to the 
expense which was incurr'd, or 
that such a body of troops would 
go from Connecticut as did, or 
be raised upon the terms they 
were. You must know, my 
good sir, that a Capt. Sears was 
here, with some other gentlemen 
of Connecticut, when the intel- 
ligence of Clinton's imbarkation 
(at least the imbarkation of the 
troops) came to hand. The 
situation of these lines would not 
afford a detachment — New York 
could not be depended upon, — 
and of the troops in Jersey we 
had no certain information, 
either o/""^ their numbers or ^°^ S. "as to." 
destination. What then was to 
be done ? Why, Sears and these 
other gentlemen assured me, that 
if the necessity of the case was 
signified by me, and that Gene- 
ral Lee should be sent, one 
thousand volunteers (requiring 
no pay, but) supplied with pro- 
visions only would march im- 
mediately to New York, and 
defend the place till Congress 



74 



could determine what should be 
done, and that a line from me 
to Grovernor Trumbull, to obtain 
his sanction, would facilitate the 
measure. This I accordingly 
wrote, in precise terms, intend- 
ing that these volunteers, and 
such of the Jersey regiments as 
could be speedily assembled, 
should be thrown into the city 
for its defence, and for disarm- 
ing the Tories upon Long Island, 
who, I understood, had become 
extreamly insolent and daring, 
when behold ! instead of volun- 
teers consisting of gentlemen 
without pay, the Governor di- 
rected men to be voluntarily 
enlisted for this service, upon 
Continental pay and allowance. 
This, you will observe, was con- 
trary to my expectation and 
plan. Yet as I thought it a 
matter of the last importance to 

secure the command^ of the ^^ S. "communication. 
North River, I did not fMnk"^^ ""^ S. "deem." . 
it expedient to countermand the 
raising of the Count regiments 
on account of the pay; if I 
have done wrong, those mem- 
bers of Congress who think the 
matter ought to have been left 
to them, must consider my pro- 
ceedings as an error of judgment, 
and that a measure is not always 

to be judged of^° by the event. ^^^ S. "of" omitted. 
It is moreover worthy of con- 
sideration that in cases of ex- 



75 



treme necessity (as^^ the pre- ^" S. ''like." 
sent) nothing but decision can 
insure success, and certain I am 
that Clinton had something more 
in view by peeping into New 
York than to gratify his curi- 
osity, or make a friendly visit to 
his friend Mr. Tryon, — however, 
I am not fond of stretching my 
powers J and if the Congress 
will say "thus far and no far- 
ther you shall go," I will pro- 
mise not to offend whilst I con- 
tinue in their service. I observe 
what you say in respect to my 
wagon, &c. I wanted nothing 
more than a light travelling 
wagon (such as those of New 
Jersey) with a secure cover 
which might be under lock and 
key, the hinges being on one 
side, the lock on the other. I 
have no copy of the memoran- 
dum of the articles I desired 
you to provide for me, but think 
one and a half dozen of camp- 
stools, a folding table, rathe)- 
two,^^ plates and dishes, were ^^ S. Omitted, 
among them; what I meant 
therefore, was that the bed of 
this"^ wagon should be con- ^^^ g "the." 
structed in such a manner as to 
stow these things to the best ad- 
vantage. If you cannot get 
them with you, I shall despair 
of providing them here, as work- 
men are scarce and most exorbi- 
tantly high in their charges. 



76 



What I should aim at is, when 
the wagon and things are ready 
(which ought to be very soon, 
as I do not know how soon we 
may beat a march) to buy a 
pair of clever horses, same co- 
lour, hire a careful driver, and 
let the whole come come off at 
once, and then they are^" ready 
for immediate service. I have no 
doubt huf^^ that the Treasury, 
by application to Mr. Hancock, 
will direct payment thereof with- 
out any kind of difficulty, as 
Congress must be sensible that 
I cannot take the field without 
equipage, and after I have once 
got into a tent, I shall not soon 
quit it. 



^" S. "will be." 



^'' S. "but" omitted. 



March 1th. 
^^^The Rumpus which every 
body expected to see between the 
3fmtsteriaUsts in Boston and our 
troops, has detained the hearer 
till this time. On llonday night 
I took possession of the Heights 
of Dorchester toith two thousand 
men imder the command of 
General TJwmas. Previous to 
this, and in order to divert the 
enemy'' s attention from, the real 
ohject, and to harass, we began 
on Saturday night a cannonade 
and bombardment, which loith 
intervals was continued through 
the night — the same on Sunday, 
and on Monday, a continued 



^^^ S. The part in Italics omit- 
ted. See, however, the letter to 
Congress of same date, in which 
the same intelligence is com- 
municated, though in a far more 
formal tone. 



77 



roar from seven o'clock till day- 
light was kept up between the 
enemy and us. In this time we 
had an officer and one private 
killed, and /our or Jive wounded; 
and through the ignorance, I 
suppose, of our artillerymen, 
burst Jive mortars (two thirteen 
inch and three ten inch) the 
"Congress" one of them. What 
damage the enemy has sustained 
is not known, as there has not 
been a creature out of Boston 
since. The canonade, &c., ex- 
cept in the destruction of the 
mortars, answered our expecta- 
tions fully ; for though tee had 
upwards o/SOO teams in motion 
at the same instant, carrying on 
our fascines, and other materials 
to the Neck, and the moon shin- 
ing in its full lustre, we were not 
discovered till daylight on Tues- 
day morning. 

So soon as we were discovered, 
every thing seemed to be prepar- 
ing for an attack, but the tide 
failing before they were ready, 
about one thousand only were 
able to embark in six transports 
in the afternoon, and these fcdl- 
ing down towards the Castle, 
were drove on shore by a violent 
storm, which arose in the after- 
noon of that day, and continued 
through the night; since that they 
have been seen returning to Bos- 
ton, and ichether from an ap- 



78 



prehension that our works are 
now too formidable to make any 
imjjression on, or from what 
other causes I know not, hut 
their hostile appearances have 
subsided, and they are removing 
their ammunition out of their 
magazine, whether with a view 
to move hag and haggage or not 
I cannot undertake to say, hut 
if we had powder, {and our 
mm'tars replaced, which I am 
about to do by new cast ones as 
soon as possible^ I would, so soon 
as we were sufficiently strength- 
ened on the heights to take pos- 
session of the point just opposite 
to Boston Neck, give them a dose 
they would not well like. 

We had prepared boats, a de- 
tachment of 4:000 men, &c., (&;c., 
for pushing to the icest part of 
Boston, if they had made any 
formidable, attack upon Dor- 
chester. ^"^I loill not lament or "^"^ S. To the end of this para- 
repine at any act of Providence graph is given in a note, vol. iii. 
because I am in agreat measure, p. 306. 
a convert to Mr. Pojie's ojiinion, 
that whatever is, is right, but^^^ I ^'* "and I think." 
think everything had the appear- 
ance of a successful issue, if we 
had come to an engagement on 
that day. It was the bth of 
March, which I recalled to their 
remembrance as a day never to 
he forgotten ; an engagement was 
fully expected, and I never saw 



79 



spirits higher, or more ardour 
prevailing. 

Your favour of the ISth ulto. 
came to my hands by post last ' 

night, and gives me much plea- 
sure, as I am led to hope I shall 
see you of^^^ my family again : ^^^ S. "in." 
the terms upon which you come 
will be perfectly agreeable to 
me, and I should think you nei- 
ther candid nor friendly if your 
communications on this subject 
had not been free, unreserved, 

and divested of that false ''^°kind ^^ S. "kind of" omitted. 
of modesty which too often pre- 
vents the elucidation of points 
important to be known. 

Mr. Baylor, seeming to have 
an inclination to go into the 

artillery, and Col. Knox*'^ de- =^^* S. "being desirous." 
sirous of it, I have appointed 

Mr. Moylan and Mr. Palfrey 
my aid-de-camp, so that I shall, 

if you come, have a good many 

writers about me. I think 

my countrymen made a capitol 

mistake when they took Henry 

out of the Senate to place him 

in the field, and pity it is he 

does not see this, and remove 

every difficulty by a voluntary 

resignation. I am of opinion 

that Colonel Armstrong (if he 

retains his health, spirits, and 

vigour) will be as fit a person 

as any they could send to Vir- 
ginia, as he is senior officer to 

any now there, and I should 



80 



think could give no offence ; but 
to place Colonel Thompson there 
in the first command, would 
throw every thing into the ut- 
most confusion, for it was by 
mere chance he became a colo- 
nel upon this expedition, and 
by greater chance he became 
first colonel, in this army; to 
take him then from another 
colony, place him over the heads 
of several gentlemen under, or 
with whom, he has served in a 

?o«' flfHfZ^^ subordinate character, ^^ S. "low and" omitted, 
would never answer any other 
purpose but that of introducing 
endless confusion, — such a thing 
surely cannot be in contempla- 
tion, and knowing the mischiefs 
it would produce, surely Colonel 
Thompson would have more 
sense and a greater regard for 
the cause he is engaged in, than 
to accept of it; unless some un- 
common abilities or exertions 
had given him a superior claim. 
He must know that nothing 
more than being a captain of 
horse in the year 1759 (I think 
it was,) did very extraordinarily 
give him the start he now has, 
when the rank was settled here : 
— at the same time he must 
know another fact, that several 
officers now in the Virginia ser- 
vice, were much his superiors 
in point of rank, and will not, I 
am sure, serve under him. He 



81 



stands first Colonel here, and 
may, I presume, put in a very 
good and proper claim to the 
first brigade that falls vacant. 
But I hope more regard will be 
paid to the service than to send 
him to Virginia. The bringing 
of Colonel Armstrong into this 
army as Major-General, however 
great his merit, would introduce 
much confusion. Thomas, if no 
more, would surely quit, and I 
believe him to be a good man. 
If Thomas supplies the place of 
Lee, there will be a vacancy for 
either Armstrong or Thompson, 
for I have heard of no other 
valiant son of New England 
waiting promotion since the ad- 
vancement of Fry, who has not, 
and I doubt will not do much 
service to the cause ; ^^at pre- ^^ S. Omitted. 
sent he keeps his room, and talks 
learnedly of emetics, cathartics, 
&c. For my own part, I see 
nothing hut a declining life that 
matters him. I am sorry to 
hear of your ill-fated fleet. We 
had it, I suppose, because we 
wished it, that Hopkins had 
taken Clinton and his trans- 
ports. How glorious would this 
have been ! We have the pro- 
verb o/^ our side, however, ^ S. "on our side. 
that a bad beginning will end 
. well : — this applies to land and 
sea service. The account given 
of the business of the Commis- 
6 



82 

sioners from England seems to 
be of a piece with Lord North's 
conciliatory motion of last year, 
built upon the same foundation, 
and if true that they are to be 
divided among the Colonies to 
offer terms of pardon, is as in- 
sulting as that motion, and only 
designed, after stopping all in- 
tercourse with us, to set us to 
view in Grreat Britain as a peo- 
ple that will not hearken to any 
propositions of peace. Was there 
ever thing more absurd than to 
repeal the very acts which have 
introduced all this confusion and 
bloodshed, and at the same time 
enact a law to restrain all inter- 
course with the Colonies for 
opposing them ! The drift and 
design is obvious ; but is it pos- 
sible that any sensible nation 
upon earth can be imposed upon 
by such a cobweb scheme or 
gauze covering* — but enough 

^^or else upon a subject so co- ^^^ S. The rest of the letter 
pious I should enter \ipon my omitted. 
fifth sheet of paper. I have, if 
length of letter will do it, al- 
ready made you ample amend 
for the silence which my hurry 
in preparing for what I hoped 
would he a decisive stroke, obliged 
me to keep. My best respects to 
Mrs. Reed, in which Mrs. Wash- 



* Here is one of the oversights in my book, plainly the result of accident. 
The words "nation upon earth can be imposed upon by such a cobweb 
scheme or gauze covering" are omitted by me. 



83 



ington Joins, concludes me, dear 
sir, 

Your most obedient 
afifectionate servant, 
G° WASHINGTON. 

March 9th. 
Colonel Bull still waiting to see 
a little further into the event of 
things, gives me an opportunity 
of adding, that from a gentle- 
man out of Boston, confirmed 
by a paper from the Selectmen 
there, we have undoubted in- 
formation of General Howe's 
preparing with great precipi- 
tancy to embark his troops ; for 
what place we know not ; Hali- 
fax, it is said. The Selectmen, 
being under dreadful apprehen- 
sion for the town, applied to 
General Robinson to apply to 
General Howe, who through 
General Robinson has inform'd 
them that it is not his intention 
to destroy the town, unless his 
Majesty's troops should be mo- 
lested during their imbarkation, 
or at their departure. This pa- 
per seems so much under covert, 
unauthenticated, and addressed 
to nobody, that I sent word to 
them (that is the Selectmen) 
that I could take no notice of 
it ; but I shall go on with my 
preparations as intended. The 
gentlemen above mentioned, out 
of Boston, say that they seem 
to be in great consternation 



84 



there, that one of our shot from 
Lamb's Dam disabled six men, 
in their beds, and that the Ad- 
miral, upon discovering our 
works next morning, informed 
the General that, unless we were 
ilispossessed of them, he could 
not keep the King's ships in the 
harbour; and that three thou- 
sand men, commanded by Lord 
Percy, were actually imbarked 
for that purpose. The issue of it 
you have been informed before. 
Yours, &c. 

G. W. 



XIV. 

Cambridge, March 19th, 1770.^' 
My dear Sir, 

We have at length got the 
uiinisterial troops in this quarter 
on shipboard. Our possessing 
Dorchester Heights, as mention- 
ed in my last, put them (after 
they had given over the design 
of attacking us) into a most 
violent hurry to embark, which 
was still further precipitated on 
Sunday morning by our break- 
ing ground on Nukes' Hill, (the 
point nearest the town,) the 
night before. The whole fleet 



* This letter is not published by Mr. Sparks. I am tempted to reprint 
it mainly on account of its spirited tone — much more attractive than the 
stateliness of Washington's style in writing to Congress. 



is now in Nantasket and King's 
Roads, waiting for I know not 
wbat, unless to give us a parting 
blow, for which I shall endeavour 
to be prepared. 

The hurry in which they have 
imbarked is inconceivable; they 
have not, from a rough estimate, 
left less than £30,000 worth of 
his Majesty's property behind 
them, in provisions and stores, 
vessels, rugs, blankets, &c. ; 
near thirty pieces of fine heavy 
cannon are left spiked, which 
we are now drilling — a mortar 
or two — the H. shells, &c. in 
abundance, — all their artillery- 
carts, powder-wagons, &c. &c., 
which they have been twelve 
months about, are left with such 
abuse as their hurry would per- 
mit them to bestow; whilst 
others, after a little cutting and 
hacking, were thrown into the 
harbour, and now are visiting 
every shore. In short, you can 
scarce form an idea of the mat- 
ter. Valuable vessels are left 
with only a mast or bowsprit 
cut down — some of them loaded; 
— their works all standing, upon 
examination of which, especially 
that at Bunker's Hill, we find 
amazingly strong; twenty thou- 
sand men could not have carried 
it against one thousand, had that 
work been well defended. The 
town of Boston was almost im- 



86 



pregnable — every avenue forti- 
Hed. I have already marched 
the riflemen and five regiments 
for New York ; I cannot spare 
more, whilst the fleet hover in 
our harbour. So soon as they 
are fairly gone, more will follow 
with all expedition, as I shall 
do myself, as I suppose New 
York to be the object in view. 
I write you in much haste, and 
therefore can only add that I 
am, dear sir, 

Your most obedient and 
affectionate servant, 
a. WASHINGTON. 

P. S. I impatiently wish to 
see you. 



XV. 

Cambridge, March Ibth, 1776. 
My dear Sir, 

Since my last, things remain 
nearly in statu quo. The ene- 
my have the best knack at puz- 
zling people I ever met with in 
my life. They have blown up, 
burnt, and demolished the castle 
totally, and are now all in Nan- 

tasket Koad— 7iai;e^=^^ been there ^^ g_ "They have." 
ever since Wednesday, wlmt do- 

iiig^^ the Lord knows. Various "^'' S. "what they are doing, 
are the conjectures; the Bos- 
tonians think their stay there 
absolutely necessary to fit them 
for sea, as the vessels neither in 



87 



'^'^ S. "nor their ladina; were. 



^° S. Omitted ; obviously a ty- 
pographical error. 
^1 S. "has arrived." 

'^^ S. Omitted. 



themselves nor loading was^^ in 
any degree fit for a voyage, being 
loaded^^ in great haste and much 
disorder. This opinion is cor- 
roborated by a deserter from one 
of the transports, who says they 
have yards, booms, bowsprits, 
&c. yet to fix. Others again 
think that they have a mind to 
pass over the equinoctial gale 
before they put out, not being 
in the best condition to stand 
one — others that they are icait- 
huf^ reinforcements, (which I 
believe tliei/ have received,^^ as 
I have bad an account of the 
sailing of fifteen vessels from the 
West Indies, ^^^and that that 
mimber have been seen coming 
into the Road.) But my opinion 
of the matter is, that they want 
to retrieve their disgrace before 
they go ofi", and I think a favour- 
able opportunity presents itself 
to them. They have now got 
their whole force into one col- 
lected body, and no posts to 
guard. We have detached six 
regiments to New York, have^^ 
many points to look to, and on 
Monday next ten regiments of 
militia which were brought in to 
serve till the 1st of April, stand^* ^* S. " will be." 
disengaged. From former expe- 
rience, we have found it equally''^ 
practicable to stop a torrent as 
these people, when their time is 
up ; if this should be the case 



S. "having been loaded." 



^3 S. "and have." 



S. 



now, what more favourable open- 
ing can the enemy wish for, to 
make a rusli^ upon our lines — ^® S. "a push/' 
nay, upon the back of our lines 
at Roxbury? as they can land 
two miles from them, and pass 
behind, I am under more ap- 
prehension from them now than 
ever, and am taking every pre- 
caution I can to guard against 
the evil ; but we have a kind of 
people to deal with who will not 
fear danger till the bayonet is at 
their breast, and then are sus- 
ceptible enough of it. I am for- 
tifying Fort Hill in Boston, de- 
molishing the lines on the Neck 

there, (as i^ ts'^ a defence against ^'' S. *' as they are/ 
the country only,) and make^^ ^^ S. "making " 
such other dispositions as appears 
necessary for a general defence. 
I can spare no more men, till I 
see the enemy's back fairly 
turned, and then shall hasten to 
New York. You mention Mr. 
Webb in one of your letters as'''^ ^^ S. "for." 
an assistant; he will be agree- 
able enough to me, if you think 
him qualified for the business. 
What kind of a hand he writes, 
I know not; I believe but a 
cramped one — latterly none at 
all, as he has either the gout or 
rheumatism m^° both. He is ^ S. "or." 
a man fond of company, of^^ ^^ S. "and/' 
gaiety — and of^ a tender con- ^*^ S. "and is of." 
stitution ; whether, therefore, 
such a person would answer 



89 



your purpose so well as a plod- 
ding, methodical person, whose 
sole business should be to ar- 
range his papers, &c. in such 
order as to produce any one at 
any instant it is called for, and 
capable, at the same time, of 
composing a letter, is what you 
have to consider. I can only 
add that I have no one in view 
myself, and wish you success in 
your choice, being with great 
truth and sincerity. 

Dear sir, your affectionate 
servant, 

G" WASHINGTON. 

P. S. I have taken occasion 
to hint to a certain gentleman 
in this Camp, without introduc- 
ing names, my apprehensions of 
his being concerned in trade. 
He protests most solemnly, that 
he is not, directly or indirectly, 
^^and derives no other profit than ~^^ S. Omitted. 
. the Congress allows him for de- 
fray iwj the expenses, to wit, 5 
per cent, on the goods purchased. 



XVI. 

Cambridge, April 1st, 1776. 

Dear Sir, 

^^By the express which I sent ^^ S. In Italics omitted. 
to Philadelphia a few days ago, 
I wrote you a few hasty lines ; 
I have little time to do more now, 
as I am hurried in despatching 



90 



07ie brigade after another for 
New York, and preparing for 
mi/ own departure hy pointing 
out the duties of those that re- 
main behind me. 

Nothing of importance has 
occurred in these parts, since my 
last, unless it be the resignations 
of Generals Ward and Fry, 
and the reassumption of the 
former, or retraction, on account 
as he says, of its being disagree- 
able to some of the officers. TF/io 
those officers are, I have not 
heard. I have not enquired. 
When the application to Con- 
gress and notice of it to me came 
to hand, I was disarmed of in- 
terposition, because it was put 
tipon the footing of duty, or con- 
science, the General being per- 
suaded that his health would not 
allow him to take that share of 
duty that his office required. 
The officers to xohom the resig- 
nation is disagreeable, have been 
able, no doubt, to convince him 
of his mistake, and that his 
Jiealth will admit him to be alert 
and active. I shall leave him 
till he can determine yea or nay, 
to command in this quarter. 
General Fry, that wonderful 
man, has made a most wonder- 
ful hand of it. His appoint- 
ment took place the 11th Janu- 
ary ; he desired ten days ago 
that his resignation might take 



91 



place the Wth April. He has 
drawn three hundred and seven- 
ty-jive dollars, never done one 
day's dutyj scarce been three 
times out of his house, discovered 
that he icas too old and too in- 
firm for a moving camp, hut 
remembers that he has been 
young, active, and very capable 
of doing what is now out of his 
po7ccr to accomplish ; and there- 
fore has left Congress to find otit 
another man capable of making, 
if possible, a more brilliant figure 
than he has done; add to these 
the dep>arture of Generals Lee 
and Thomas, taking some little 

account of S r and H , 

and then form an opinion of the 
G Is of this ariny, tlieir coun- 
cils, &c. 

Your letter of the 15th ult. 
contained a very unfavourable 
account of the Carolinas, but I 
am glad to find by the subse- 
quent one of the IM""^^ that the ^ S. Omitted, 
prospect brightens, and that Mr. 
Martin's first attempt, -^''(^AraM^^/i ^"^ S. Omitted. 
those universal instruments of 
tyranny, the Scotch,) hath met 
with its deserved success. The 
old proverb of the first blow 
being half the battle cannot bet- 
ter apply than in these instances, 
the spirits of the vanquished be- 
ing depressed in proportion as 
the victors get elated. 

I am glad to find my camp 



92 



equipage in such forwardness; I 
shall expect to meet it, and I 
hope you, at New York, for 
which place I am preparing to 
set out on Thursday or Friday 
next. The accounts brought by 
Mr. Temple of the favourable 
disposition in the Ministry to 
accommodate matters does not 
correspond with their speeches 
in Parliament; — how then does 
he account for their inconsist- 
ency ? If the commissioners do 
not come over with full and 
ample powers to treat with Con- 
gress, I sincerely wish they may 
never put their feet on American 
ground, as it must be self-evident 
(in the other case,) that they 
come over'*^ with insidious in- ®*^ S. "they will, 
tentions; to distract, divide, and 
create as much confusion as pos- 
sible; how then can any man, 
let his passion for reconciliation 
be Qiever'^ so strong, be so '"^ S. "ever." 
blinded and misled, as to em- 
brace a measure evidently de- 
signed for his destruction ? No 
man does, no man can wish the 
restoration of peace more fer- 
vently than I do, but I hope, 
whenever made, it will be upon 
such terms as will reflect honour 
upon the councils and wisdom 
of America. With you, I think 
a change in the American repre- 
sentation necessary ; frequent 
appeals to the people can be 



93 



attended with no bad, but may 
have very salutary effects. My 
countrymen, I know from their 
form of government and steady 
attachment heretofore to royalty, 
will come reluctantly into the 
idea of independency, but time 
and persecution brings many 
wonderful things to pass ; and 
by private letters which I have 
lately received from Virginia, I 
find "Common Sense" is work- 
ing a powerful change there in 
the minds of many men. 

The four thousand men de- 
stined for Boston on the 5th, if 
the ministerialists had attempted 
our works on Dorchester, ^^ or the 
lines at Roxbury, were to have 
been headed by Old Pnt.^'°* 
But he would have had pretty 
easy work of it, as his motions 
were to have been regulated by 
signals, and those signals from~^^ 
appearances. He was not to 
have made the attempt unless 
the town had been drained, or 
very considerably weakened of^^ 
its force. 

^^I believe I mentioned in my 
last to you, that all those loho 
took upon themselves the style and 
title {in Boston) of government s 
men, have shipped themselves off 



^9 S. "Dorchester Heights." 
^ S. "General Putnam." 

^" S. "by." 



"^^ S. "of." 

"-^^ S. The rest of this letter 
omitted ; similar language being 
found in a letter to John Augus- 
tine Washington, written the 
day before. 



* It is printed "Old Put" in my book, as a quotation. Hence it has 
been assumed that Washington so used it. On reference now, however, to 
the original, I find it is written " headed by Old Put," without the quotation 
marks. 



94 



in the same Tiiirry, hut tmder 
greater disadvantoges tlian the 
King's (/ think it idle to keep 
up the distinction of minister iat) 
troops have done, hcing ohliged 
■in a manner, to man their own 
vessels; seamen not being to he 
had for the King's transports, 
and suhfnit to all the hardships 
that can he conceived. One or 
two of them have committed what 
it woidd have been happy for 
mankind if m,ore of them had 
doncj long ago ; the act of sui- 
cide. By all accounts a more 
miserable set of beings does not 
exist than these; taught to believe 
that the poicer of Great Britain 
was almost omnijyotent, and if 
it was not, that foreign aid was 
at hand, they were higher and 
more insulting in their opj)osition 
than the regulars themselves. 
When the order issued therefore 
for embarking the troops in Bos- 
ton, no electric shock, no sudden 
flash of lightning, in a word, not 
even the last trump, could have 
struck them urith greater conster- 
nation; they were at their wit's 
end, and conscious of their black 
ingratitude, chose to commit them- 
selves in the manner before de- 
scribed, to the mercy of the winds 
and waves in a tempestuous sea- 
son, rather than meet their of- 
fended countrymen ; and with 
this declaration I am told they 



^5 



have done it, that if they could 
have thought that the most abject 
mhmission would have procured 
peace for them, they looidd have 
humbled themselves in the dust, 
and hissed the rod that shoidd 
be held out for chastisement. 
Unhappy loretches ! Deluded 
mortals ! Would it not be good 
policy to grant a generous am- 
nesty, and conquer these people 
by a generous forgiveness?* I 
am,, with Mrs. Washington's com- 
pliments joined with my oion to 
Mrs. Reed, dear sir. 

Your sincere and affectionate 
friend and servant, 

G" WASHINaTON. 

P. S. I have this instant re- 
ceived an express from Governor 
GooJce, informing me that a man 
of war is just arrived in the 
harboicr at New Port, and that 
twenty-seven sail of vessels (swp- 
p>osed to be part of the fleet from 
Boston^ are ivithin Secenet Point. 
I have ordered General Sulli- 
van's brigade, which marched 
from hence on Friday afternoon, 
to file off immediately for Provi- 
dence, and General Greene's, 



* This sentence, "Would it not be good policy to grant a generous 
amnesty, and conquer these people by a generous forgiveness?" and the 
parenthetical phrase, in which Washington says it is idle longer to make a 
distinction between royal and ministerial troops, are not to be found in the 
letter to John Augustine Washington. They are, it seems to me, worth 
preserving, for one of them certainly very much qualifies the bitterness of 
Washington's tone towards the Loyalists. 



96 



which was to begin its march 
to-day, to repair immediately to 
that place. G. W. 



XVII. 

New York, April 16, 1776.* 
Dear Sir, 

Your favour of the 13 th was 
this lust, put into my hands — 

scarce time^* enough to acknow- "** S. "scarcely in time." 
ledge the receipt of it (by this 
Post), and to thank you for your 
great care and attention in pro- 
viding my Camp Equipage — 

^^whatever the list you sent may ^^ S. Passage in Italics omitted. 
/all short of your intention of 
providing, can be got here; and 
may be delayed ; as the want or 
not of them, will depend upon 
circumstances. 

I am exceedingly concerned 
to hear of the divisions and 
Parties which prevail with you, 
and in the Southern Colonies on 
the score of Independence, &c. 
— these are the shelves we have 
to avoid or our Bark will split 
and tumble to pieces — here lays 
our great danger, and I almost 
tremble when I think of this 
rock — nothing but a disunion 
can hurt our cause — this will 
ruin it, if great prudence, tem- 



* Of this letter I printed but a part in my Memoir, vol. i. p. 189. It 
will be found in Mr. Sparks's work, vol. iii. p. 357. I have the original. 



97 



per and moderation is^ not 
mixed in our councils and made 
the governing principles of the 
contending parties. 

When, my good sir, will you 
be with me ? I fear I shall have 
a difficult card to play in this 
Government,*'*'' and could wish* 
for your assistance and advice to 
manage it. I have not time to 
add more, except that with great 
sincerity and truth I am. Dear 
Sir, 

Yr most obedt and affect h^e 
serv* 

a° WASHINGTON. 

"^P. S. Mrs. Wasliington, &c. 
came the Harford Road, and 

not yet arrived — detained hy the 
illness {on the Road) of poor 
Mr. Custis, who is now better 
and coming on.'\ 



S. "are" — so printed by me. 



^^ S. "(New York)" inserted 
after government. 



S. Postscript omitted. 



XVIII. 



Brunswick, JVbremS. 30, 1776. J 

Dear Sir, 

The enclosed was put into my 
hands by an express from the^ 
White Plains. Having no idea 



^^ S. "the" omitted. 



* Printed by me "wish." 

f Here, the series of what, may be called strictly private letters ends, 
and occasionally what Washington wrote began to be recorded in Letter 
Books. But even at later dates, as will be seen, he continued to write to 
General Reed confidential and familiar letters which were not transcribed. 

X The original of this letter, relating to the difficulty with General Lee, 
is not in my hands. I copied from Mr. Sparks, and he, I presume, from 
the Letter Book, for this, I am informed, is the first of the letters entered 
in the Letter Books. I now print from the Letter Book. 
7 



98 



of its being a private letter, 
much less suspecting the tend- 
ency of the correspondence, I 
opened it, as I had done all let- 
ters to you from the same place 
and Peck's Hill, upon the busi- 
ness of your office, as I conceived 
and found them to be. This, 
as it is the truth, must be my 
excuse, for seeing the contents 
of a letter which neither incli- 
nation, nor intention would have 
prompted me to. I thank you 
for the trouble and fatigue you 
have undergone in your journey 
to Burlington, and sincerely 
wish your labours may be 
crowned with the desired suc- 
cess. With best respects to 
Mrs. Reed, 

I am, dear sir, &c. 
G" WASHINGTON. 
"^P. S. The Petition referred -"° Postscript omitted. 



to Ik 



eep. 



XIX. 



Camp above Trenton Falls, 
23d December, 1776.* 

Dear Sir, 

The bearer is sent down to 
know whether your plan was 
attempted last night, and if not, 



* I am led to reprint tliis letter, dated but two days before the battle of 
Trenton, the original being in my possession, having been recovered since 
the publication of Mr. Sparks's work. Mr. Sparks copied it (vol. iv. p. 
241) from Wilkinson's Memoirs. 



99 



to inform you, that Christmas 
day at night, one hour before 
day, is the time fixed upon for 
our attempt on Trenton. For 
Heaven's sake, keep this to 
yourself, as the discovery of it 
may prove fatal tons; our num- 
bers, sorry I am"^^ to say, being 
less than I had any conception 
of; but necessity, dire necessity 
will, nay must, justify any^'^ at- 
tack. Prepare, and in concert 
with Griffin, attack as many of 
their posts as you possibly can, 
with a prospect of success ; the 
more we can attack at the same 
instant, the more confusion we 
shall spread, and greater^^ good 
will result from it. 

If I had not been fully con- 
vinced before, of the enemy's 
designs, I have now ample testi- 
mony of their intentions to at- 
tack Philadelphia so soon as the 
ice will afford the means of con- 
veyance. 

As the Colonels of the Conti- 
nental regiments might kick up 
some dust about command un- 
less Cadwallader is considered 
by them in the light of a Briga- 
dier, which I wish him to be, I 
desired General Gates, who is 
unwell and applied for leave to 
go to Philadelphia, to endeavour, 
if his health would permit him, 
to call and stay two or three 
days at Bristol in his way. I 



-"' S. "am I;" and so printed 
by me and Wilkinson. 



^« S. "an," and by me 
clearly a misprint. 



my, 



S. "the greater." 



100 



shall not be particular; we could 
not ripen matters for oiir'-*^* attack ^^ S. 'Sn." 
before the time mentioned in the 
first part of this letter, so much 
out of sorts, and so much in want 
of every thing are the troops un- 
der Sullivan, &c. '^^^Letmehioiv '^^ S. This sentence is omitted 
hy a careful express the plan you by Wilkinson. 
are to pursue. The letter here- 
with sent, forward on to Phila- 
delphia. I could wish it to be 
in time for the Southern post's 
departure, which will be, I be- 
lieve by eleven o'clock to-mor- 
row. I am, dear sir, 
Your most obedient servant, 

G" WASHINGTON. 
P. S. I have ordered our men 

to be provided with three day's 

provisions ready cooked, with 

which and their blankets, they 

are to march ; for if we are suc- 
cessful, which Heaven grant, 

and the circumstances favour, 

we may push on. I shall direct 

every ferry and ford to be well 

guarded, and not a soul suffered 

to pass without an officer's going 

down with the permit ; do the 

same with you. 

To Joseph Reed, Esq. — or in 

his absence to Jno. Cadwallader, 

]Esq., only, at Bristol. 



101 



XX. 

Head Quks. Middle Brook,* 
May 29tk, 1777. 
Dear Sir, 

Congress having empowered 
me by a Resolve, transmitted 
this morning, to assign one of 
the Generals, already appointed, 
to the command of the Light 
Horse, I mean that you should 
act in that line, if agreeable to 
yourself, and Mj/s/t^^" you, in such ^^^ S. "I wish." 
case, to repair to Camp, as soon 
as you can. 

I am, D^ sir, with great es- 
teem, yi' most obed* serv*, 

G" WASHINGTON. 



XXI. 



Camp at Middle Brook, 
June llih, mi.f 

Dear Sir, 

Your favour of the 4th was 
given to me by Jos Arrowsmith 
just as Mr. Peters inform'd me, 
he was about to set out for Phi- 
ladelphia. I could not resist 
the inclination, however, of de- 
taining him long enough to 
write you a short letter, to thank 



* This letter (except the signature) is in the handwriting of a secretary. 
All the rest now reprinted are complete Washington autographs. 

f Both Mr. Sparks and I have accidentally mispriuted the date of this 
letter. In the original, it is clearly the eleventh and not the "fourteenth" 
of June. 



102 



you, as I do most sincerely, for 
the friendly and affectionate sen- 
timents contain'd in your's of 
the above date towards me, and 
to assure you, that I am per- 
fectly convinc'd of the sincerity 
of them. 

True it is, I felt myself hurt 
by a certain letter, which ap- 
pear'd at that time to be the 
eccho of one from you. I was 
hurt, not because I thought my 
judgment wrong'd by the ex- 
pressions contain'd in it, but 
because the same sentiments 
were not communicated imme- 
diately to myself. The favour- 
able manner in which your 
opinion upon all occasions, had 
been received — the impression 
they made — ^and the unreserved 
manner in which I wished, and 
required them to be given, en- 
titled me, I thought, to your 
advice upon any point in which 
I appeared to be wanting. To 
meet with anything, then, that 
carried with it a complexion of 
withholding that advice from me, 
and censuring my conduct to an- 
other, was such an argument of 
disingenuity, that I was not a 
little mortified at it. However, 
I am perfectly satisfied that mat- 
ters were not as they appeared 
from the letter alluded to. 

I sincerely wish that you may 
accept the appointment of Con- 



103 



gress, and the post I am desirous 
of placing you in, and must beg 
to be favour'd with an answer 
immediately upon the subject, 
as the service will not admit of 
delay. A general ofl&cer in that 
department would not only take 
of a great deal of trouble from 
me, but be a means of bringing 
those regiments into order and 
service with much more facility 
than it is in my power, divided 
as my attention is, can possibly 
do.* Mr. Peter's waiting obliges 
me to conclude, and I do it with 
great truth. 

Dear sir, your obedient and 
affectionate servant, 

G° WASHINGTON. 



/ 



/ XXII. . 

Valley-Forge, June Ibth, 1778.f 
Dear Sir, 

I thank you vcrif^'' much for ^'"' S. ''very" omitted, 
your friendly favor of this date, 
and your polite attention in sub- 
mitting the draught of your let- 
ter to Gov. Johnston to my pe- 
rusal — I return it again, but 
before 3'^ou transcribe a fair copy, 
I would wish to see you upon 
the subject of it — perhaps there 



* "Possibly to do ;" and so printed by Mr. Sparks. 
f This letter was not published in my Memoir. The original manuscript 
is in my possession. It is not in the Letter Books. 



104 



are some parts of it which might 
receive a small alteration — In 
the present situation of things 
all correspondence of this nature 
must, and will be weighed and 
scanned with a scrupulous ex- 
actness; and even compliment, 
if carried far, may not pass en- 
tirely uncensured. 

There is another consideration 
with me.^^ Congress perhaps 
at this instant are deliberating 
on ^^a7i answer to give the Com- 
missioners to an address they 
have received from them. Should 
^"^^a letter therefore from a Mem- 
her (^in which light you will he 
considei'edy^^ hold out senti- 
ments different from theirs,^~'^ 
an unfavourable use will doubt- 
less^'^ be made of it. I am dear 
sir, &c. 

To General Reed, at Major 
Henry's. 



^^ S. "consideration which 
weighs." 

^^^ S. " on an answer to the ad- 
dress which they have received 
from the commissioners." 
2'° S. "Should your letter there- 
fore considered as coming from 
a member contain." 
"''^ S. " (in which light you will 
be considered)" omitted. 
^"^ S. "repugnant to." 
^7^ S. "more than probably." 



y 



Fredericksburg, ^''^in the State of 
New York, Novr. 27, 78.* 

Dear Sm, 

I am upon the eve of my de- 
parture for Winter Quarters, but 
shall not quit my present roof 



XXIII. 

2'4 S. Omitted. 



* Of this letter I printed but a portion at p. 141, vol. ii., and in that 
probably followed Mr. Sparks's text as a matter of convenience, for I find 
his variations from the MS. all copied by me. This letter is not recorded 
in the Letter Books. 



105 



until I acknowledge, and thank 
you for your obliging favor of 
the 25th ult. 

Unless the ofl&cer who com- 
manded the dispersed Dragoons 
of Baylor's Kegiment was di- 
rected by Mr. Caldwell to Tren- 
ton, he was not only guilty of 
an unpardonable piece of indis- 
cretion, but disobedience of or- 
ders ; fot^'^ he was instructed to 
collect the scattered remains of 
that Regim* and repair with 
them, to such place (out of the 
common rout of the waggons) 
as the Quarter mr. should direct 
— I have ordered an enquiry 
into his conduct on tliis^^ occa- 
sion. 

It is most devoutly to be 
wished that some happy expe- 
dient could be hit upon to re- 
store credit to our paper emis- 
sions; and punish the infamous 
practice of forestalling — and 
the^'" engrossing such articles as 
are essentially necessary to the 
very existence of the army — and 
which hy these practices,^^ comes 
to it thro' the hands of these 
people at 50 p. ct. advance, to 
the great injury and deprecia- 
tion of our money, by accumu- 
lating the quantum, necessary 
for ordinary purposes to an enor- 
mons^'^^ sum, which must end in 
a total stagnation of all pur- 



^75 S. 



^9 S. "that. 



^^ S. "the" omitted; so by me. 



^"^ S. "this means: 
printed by me. 



and so 



=^9 S. "amazing; 
ed by me. 



and so print- 



106 



chases, unless some remedy can 
be soon, and effectually, applied. 

It is also most devoutly to be 
wished that faction was at an 
end, and that those to whom 
everything dear and valuable is 
entrusted, would lay aside party 
views, and return to first prin- 
ciples. — Happy — happy — thrice 
happy country, if such was'^'^" the 
government of it. — But alas ! we 
are not to expect that the path 
trill he^^^ strewed with flowers — 
That great and good Being who 
rules the Universe has disposed 
matters otherwise and for wise 
purposes, I am persuaded. 

As my letter to Congress of 
this date has carried^^ a full 
acct of the Cantonment of the 
Troops, and other matters of 
public concernmt, I have no 
need to repeat theni^^'^ to you as 
an individual member. — The 
conduct of the enemy at New 
York and Khode Island is too 
misterious to be accounted for 
by any rule of common sense — 
The Transports containing their 
second Imbarkation still remain 
in the harbour — for what pur- 
pose is^^ not easy to conjecture. 

I shall hope, when the army 
gets a little settled in Winter 
Quarters that the comee of ar- 
rangement will perfect the good 
work they hetjmv^^ in the Sum- 
mer, and draw order from the 



S. "were;" so by me. 



S. "is to be;" so by me. 



S. "given;" so by me. 



S. "it;" so by me. 



S. "it is;" so by me. 



S. "began;" so by me. 



107 



Chaos we have been in for a 
long time past. — 

It is eleven o'clock at night, 
and I am to set out early in the 
morning, for which reasons I 
shall only add my thanks for 
the favourable sentiments you 
are pleased to entertain for, and 

have expressed^^ for me. — But "^^ S. Omitted; and by me. 
in a more especial mannei', for 
your good wishes and prayers. — 

With sincere re^/a?'^**'' and affec- ^'' S. "esteem;" and so by me. 
tion — and with compliments to 
Mrs. Eeed, 

I am, Dr Sir, 

Yi' most Obed* and Obliged 
G° WASHINGTON. 




XXIV. 

'^IiDDLE Brook, Bee. 12, 1778.* 
Dear Sir, 

Your favour of the 7th inst., 
by Mr. Laurens, came to my 
hands a day or two ago, jjre- 

ciousr^^ to which I should have ^^ S. "previously." 
done myself the pleasure of con- 
gratulating you (which I now 
do very sincerely) on your late 
election to the government of 
Pennsylvania, had not Sir Har- 

ry'sf lafe^^ extra manoeuvre up ^^ S. "late" omitted. 
the North-River kept me upon 
the march and countermarch 
from the 5th till yesterday; 



This letter is in the Letter Books. f " Sir Henry's. 



108 



when I arrived at these, my 
quarters for the winter, and 
employed too much of my at- 
tention ^^to investigate his de- 
signs, to indulge in more agree- 
ahle amusements. 

What did or could prompt 
the Knight to this expedition, 
^^^is beyond the reach of my con- 
ception, considering the unsea- 
sonableness of it. Three things 
only appeared to me probable : 
a rescue of the Convention 
troops, a stroke at the rear of 
our army, or a surprise of the 
posts in the Highlands. The 
two first I had seen perfectly 
out of his reach before I left the 
North-River; and not conceiving 
that he could miss it so much 
in point of intelligence as to 
mistime matters so egregiously, 
(if either of the other two"^^ was 
his object,) it followed, of conse- 
quence, that the last must be 
his aim ; and though I had left 
them,* as I thought, in a state 
of security, and in the hands of 
a good officer — McDougall, I 
could not help being uneasy lest 
some^^'^ disaster might befall 
fhem^^ — andf posted back from 
Elizabethtown on the morning^^^ 
of the 5th, and got within twelve 
or fifteen miles of King's Ferry, 
when I was met by an express 



290 g_ u£qj. investigating his de- 
signs to allow me to indulge," &c. 



^^^ S. "I am at a loss to dis- 
cover." 



^8^ S. "two first." 



293 

294 
395 



S. "a disaster." 

S. " might happen." 

S. "at four o'clock of the 



mornmo;. 



'Him." 



f Printed •'!." 



109 



informing me that the enemy 
had landed at that place, ^^het 
Jive to tico small log'd hotiscs, 
destroyed nine harrels of spoiled 
herrings, and had set sail for 
New-York^ 

Thus ended this notable expe- 
dition, which was conducted (in 
the preparation) with so much 
secrecy, that all the flag-boats to 
and from the city were stopped, 
and not a mouse permitted to 
creep within their lines. The 
only bad consequence we have 
felt from it, (and, as the weather 
has turned out, not a trifling 
one,) is that it has delayed the 
Virginia, Maryland, and Penn- 
sylvania troops four days in 
hutting, and has occasioned them 
to march through snow and bad 
roads to come at their ground, 
instead of having sunshine and 
good ones, which was the case 
before the storm on Thursday 
last. 

It gives me very sincere plea- 
sure to find that there is likely 
to be a coalition of the "Whigs 
in your State, (a few only ex- 
cepted,) and that the Assembly 
of it are^^'^ so well disposed to 
second your endeavours in bring- 
ing those murderers of our cause 
— the monopolizers, forestallers, 
and engrossers to condign pun- 



^^ S. " burned two or three log 
houses with nine barrels of spoilt 
herrings, and had re-embarked 
and sailed for New York again." 



^^' S. "of \i" 
printed "is." 



omitted — "are" 



* So, literally, in the original, though Mr. Sparks in his first pamphlet 
expresses some doubt as to the accuracy of my text. 



110 

ishmcnt. It is much to be la- 
mented that each State, long ere 
this, has not hunted them down 

as the^^ pests of society, and the ^^^ S. "the" omitted 
greatest enemies we have to the 
happiness of America. I would 
to God that one^^ of the most --^ S. "some one " 
atrocious in each State was hung 
in gibbets upon a gallows five 
times as high as the one pre- 
pared by Haman. No punish- 
ment, in my opinion, is too 
great for the man who can 
" build his greatness upon his 
country's ruin." 

General Lee's publication in 
Dunlap's Gazette of the 3rd inst., 
(and I have seen no other,) puts 
me in a disagreeable situation. 
I have neither leisure nor incli- 
nation to enter the lists with 
him in a newspaper : and so far 
as his production points to per- 
sonality, I can and do from my 
inmost soul despise it; but when 
he has most barefacedly misre- 
presented facts in some places, 
and thrown out insinuations in 
others that have not the smallest 
foundation in truth, not to at- 
tempt a refutation is a tacit ac- 
knowledgment of the justice of 
his assertions; for though there 
are thousands who know how 
unsupported his piece is, there 
are yet tens of thousands that 
know nothing of the matter, and 
will be led naturally to con- 



Ill 



clude^°° that bold and confident 
assertions, uncontradicted, must 
be founded in truth. 

It became a part of G-eneral 
Lee's plan, from the moment of 
his arrest, (though it was an 
event solicited by himself,) to 
have the world believe that he 
was a persecuted man, and that 
party was at the bottom of it. 
But however convenient it may 
have been* for his purpose to 
establish this doctrine,^^ I defy 
him or his most zealous partisans 
to adduce a singlef instance in 
proof of it, unless bringing him 
to tryal at his own request is 
considered in this light. 

I can do more; I will defy 
any person| out of my own 
family to say that I have ever 
mentioned his name after his 
tryal commenced, if it was to 
be avoided ; and when it was^^ 
not, if I have not studiously 
declined expressing any senti- 
ment of him or of his behaviour. 
How far this conduct accords 
with his, let his own breast de- 
cide. If he conceives that I 
was opposed to him because he 
found himself disposed to enter 
into a party against me — if he 
thought I stood in his road to 
preferment, and therefore that 
it was convenient to lessen me 



30° S. "believe." 



30^ S. "belief." 



3°^ S. "it was" omitted. 



* "It may have been" omitted. 
X "Man." 



•f Printed by me "simple. 



112 



in the esteem of my countrymen, 
in order to pave the way for his 
own advancement — I have only 
to observe, that as I never en- 
tertained any jealousy of, or 
apprehension from^^^ him, so 
neither did I ever* do more 
than common civility and a 
proper respect to his rank re- 
quired, to conciliate his good 
opinion. His temper and plans 
were too versatile and violent to 
attract my admiration ; and that 
I have escaped the venom of his 
tongue and pen so long, is more 
to be wondered at than applaud- 
ed; as it is a favour thaf°* no 
officer under whose immediate 
command he ever served has 
the happiness (if happiness can 
be thus denominated) of boast- 
ing. 

Were I to give in to private 
conveniency and amusement, I 
should not be able to resist the 
invitations of my friends to 
make Philadelphia (instead of a 
squeezed up room or two) my 
quarters for the winter. But 
the affairs of the army requires a 
constant attention and presence, 
and circumstanced as matters are 
at this juncture^°^ calls for some 
degree of care and address to 
keep it from crumbling. As 
peace and retirement are my 



^"^ S. "apprehension from" 
omitted. 



3«* S. "of which." 



S. "time.' 



* "Ever" omitted. 



113 



ultimate aim, and the most 
pleasing and flattering wts/t'"" of 
my soul, everything advancive^'' 
of this end contributes to my 
satisfaction, however difficult and 
inconvenient in the attainment, 
and will reconcile any place and 
all circumstances to my feelings, 
whilst I remain^^ in service. 

The officers of the army must 
be grateful for your endeavours 
to serve them ; and those of your 
own State will, I trust, feel the 
salutary effects of your exertions 
in their favour. They really 
merit it, and resignation must 
cease to be wonderful, when it 
is a fact too notorious to be de- 
nied that officers cannot live in 
the army under present circum- 
stances, whilst they see others 
enriching themselves by an in- 
finity of ways. These are severe 
tests of public virtue, and should 
not in point of policy be pushed 
too far. 

With sincere regard and affec- 
tion, and with compliments to 
Mrs. Reed, I am, dear sir. 

Your most obedient friend 
and servant, 

G" WASHINGTON.* 



«°« S. "hope." 
^'^ S. "promotive. 



""^ S. "continue. 



* The above letter — at least so I am informed by a friend who has 
examined the records in the Department of State at Washington — is the 
first of my manuscript collection which is to be foirnd in the Letter Books. 
I presume Mr. Sparks printed from the Letter Books, and this was probably 
not among the copies I sent him. The text of the original and the Letter 
Book certainly do not agree literally. 



114 



y 



XXV. 

MiDDLEBKOOK, 3Iar. 28, 1779.* 

Dear Sir, 

The enemy have some enter- 
prize in view. — New London, on 
account of the Frigates in the 
river, and because boats have 
been preparing at the East end 
of Long Island, and Troops for 
some time past drawing thither- 
ward, is supposed to be the ob- 
ject. — Probably it is so — but as 
the season is now approaching 
when either negociation, or vig- 
orous exertions must take place; 
and General Glhiton^"^ doubtless 
will, in the latter case, and in 
pursuance of the predatory plan 
talked of (by the minority and 
not disavowed by administration) 
attempt something that will give 
eclat to his arms. I should not 
be much surprized if some vig- 
orous efforts were used against 
Annapolis, Baltimore, or even 
Phila itself. — I do not mean 
with a view to hold either of 
these places but to plunder or 
destroy them — Gleneral Clinton 
(under pretence of visiting the 
Troops) is now at the East end 
of Long Island with Sir Wm. 
Erskine — Admiral Gambier is 
gone to Rhode Island — and one 



3"9 S. "must take the place of 
inactivity, and as General Clin- 
ton." 



* But a part of this letter was published by me, vol. ii. p. 72. This 
letter is, I believe, not in the Letter Book. 



115 



of my most intelligent corre- 
spondents informs me r^^^° is ''° S. "that it." 
surmised that the Troops at that 
place are to be withdrawn — 
Transports with provisions have 
gone from New York toicards^^' "* S. " to." 
Rhode Island — and a number of 
Privateers have been detained 
from their cruises and sent along 
with them — Upon the whole, I 
cannot help suspecting that the 
preparations have been too long 
making — too formidable — and 
too open for any enterprize 
against New London; for^^ ^'* S. "concerning. 
Avhieh place the fears of the 
people are up f^^ and as we *^^ S. "awake." 
cannot tell where it may fall, 
we should, as far as human pru- 
dence, and the means in our 
hands will enable us, be guarded 
at all points — The sole purpose 
therefore of this letter is to 
suggest fo^" your consideration '" S. "for." 
the expediency of adopting, in 
time, some general plan (with- 
out taking notice of the present 
suggestion, thereby creating, 
probably unnecessary fears) for 
giving an alarm to the Militia 
of the country, and for Jixing^^^ ^^-^ S. "fixing on." 
places of rendezvous for them, 
that in cases of sudden emerg- 
ency they mai/ be quicMi/ assem- 
blccP^^ free from tumult or dis- 
order; for be assured if any- 
thing is attempted against the 



S. "may quickly assemble." 



116 

City* of Phil^, the preparations 
for it will be Md''^^ under the ^17 g. ''held." 
darkest veil — and the movement 
when the plan is ripe for execu- 
tion, will be rapid. 

As my motive to this sugges- 
tion is good I will offer no 
apology for the freedom, but 
assure you that I am with great 
respect, 

Dr sir, yr most obed. servant, 
G° WASHINGTON. 
His Exeelly, 

Joseph Keed, Esqr, Presid*. 



i 



XXVI. 



Head-Quarters, Middlebrook, 
Mmj Sth, 1779. 

Dear Sir, 

I have delayed acknowledging 
the receipt of your favour of the 
1st, in expectation that it would 
soon be followed by an official 
one which would enable me to 
take final measures on the sub- 
ject of the trial. 

The explanation with which 
you have obliged me gives me 
pleasure in the same proportion 
as the disagreeable inferences I 
had drawn gave me pain. It 
wounds me sensibly to see ap- 
pearances of any-f- distrust of my 
equal attention to the security 



'The City of" omitted by me. f " Any" omitted by me. 



117 



and welfare of the different 
States; and?^^ my ardent desire 
to cultivate mutual confidence 
and harmony with every one, 
will always make me glad to 
find any apprehensions I may 
entertain on this delicate sub- 
ject* unfounded. ^^^ 

I am also happy to find if^ 
your opinion that the footing on 
which General Arnold's trial is 
now put will be agreeable. If 
the Council think the needful 
testimony can be ready by the 
1st of June, it will come on 
then. As I do not hear from 
them, and time is slipping away 
fast, I enclose a letter to Gene- 
ral Arnold, fixing the trial at 
that day wee1:f^^ you will be 
pleased to have delivered^^^ to 
him in case it corresponds with 
the sense of the Council; other- 
wise it is to be returned to me ; 
but at all events I beg you will 
press a decision, as General 
Arnold has again signified his 
anxious desire to me that the 
trial may be brought on, and as 
the sooner it is, the more conve- 
nient it will be to our military 
arrangements. 

Speaking of witnesses, you 
say Congress have declined ex- 
ercising any compulsory power 
over their officers on the ocea- 



n's S. "and" omitted. 



3« S. "ill-founded." 
^'^ S. "it is." 



3^^ S. "week" omitted. 

^^ S. "which you will please to 

cause to be delivered." 



* Printed "object" by me. 



118 

sion; where any perso?t''-^ in the ^^^ S. '^persons, 
military line i^^ summoned, as ^" S. "are." 
I mentioned in my letter to the 
Council, it is my duty to order 
their attendance, which I shall 
of course do. With respect to 
these, therefore, the interposi- 
tion of Congress would be un- 
necessary. 

With very great regard and 
esteem, I am, dear sir, 

Yr most obed. servant, 
G" WASHINGTON.* 



XXVII. 

West-Point, Juli/29ih, 1779.f 
Dear Sir, 

I have a pleasure in acknow- 
ledging the receipt of your 
obliging favour| of the 15th 
inst., and in finding, by it, that 
the author of the Queries "Po- 
litical and Military," has had 
no great cause to exult in the 
favourable reception of them by 
the public. 

Without a clue, I should have 
been at no loss^^ to trace the ^^ S. "no great loss." 
malevolent writer; but I have 
seen a history of the transaction, 
and felt a pleasure mingled with 



* This is in the Letter Book. 

f There is an intermediate letter of 20th May, 1779, of which I have not 
the autograph, and probably copied from Mr. Sparks's text. Thei-e is one 
also of the 5th July, '79, which I did not print. This letter of 20th July 
is in the Letter Book. J "Letter." 



119 



pain, at the narration. To stand 
well in the estimation of one's 
country, is a happiness that no 
rational creatvire can be insensi- 
ble of. To be pursued, first, 
under the mask of friendship, 
and when disguise would suit no 
longer, as an open calumniator, 
with gross misrepresentation, 
and self-Jcnown* falsehoods, car- 
ries an alloy which no temper^"^ 
can bear with perfect composure. 
The motives which actuate 
this gentleman are hetter under- 
sfoocF^'' by himself than me. If 
he can produce a single instance 
in which I have mentioned his 
name (after his tryal commenced) 
where it was in my power to 
avoid it, and when it was not, 
where I have done it withf the 
smallest degree of acrimony or 
disrespect; I will consent that 
the world shall view my charac- 
ter in as disreputable a light as 
he wishes to place it. What 
cause then there is for such a 
profusion of venom, as he is 
emitting upon all occasions, un- 
less by an act of public duty, in 
bringing him to tryal, at his 
own solicitation, I have disap- 
pointed him, and raised his ire, 
or conceivings^ that in propor- 
tion as he can darken the shades 
of my character, he illuminates 



3^« S. "no mind." 



"^'' S. "can better be accounted 
for." 



®^ S. "or he conceives." 



* "Self-known''^ is Italicized iu the original. 



120 



his own. Whether these, I say, 
or motives yef'^^ more dark and 
Mdden^'^^ govern him, I shall 
not undertake to decide, nor 
have I time to inquire into them 
at present. 

If I had ever assumed the 
character of a military genius, 
and the ojjicei^^^ of experience, 
if, under these false colours, I 
had solicited the command I was 
honoured with, or if, after my 
appointment, I had presump- 
tuously driven on under the 
sole guidance of my own judg- 
ment, and self-will, and misfor- 
tunes, the result of obstinacy 
and misconduct, not of necessity, 
had followed, I should have 
thought myself a proper ohjecf^^ 
for the lash, not only of his, but 
the pen of every other writer, 
and a fit suhjecf^^ of public re- 
sentment. — But when it is well 
known that the command, in a 
manner was forced upon me — 
that I accepted it with the ut- 
most diffidence, from a con- 
sciousness that it required 
greater abilities, and more ex- 
perience than I possessed, to 
conduct a great military ma- 
chine embarrassed as I knew 
ours must be, by a variety of 
complex circumstances, a«(P^ 
as it were but little hetter^^ 
than a mere chaos — and when 
nothing more was promised on 



^"3 S. " still." 

33° S. "hidden and dark." 



^^ S. "an officer." 



S. "subject." 



S. "object." 



^^■» S. "being." 
335 S. "more." 



121 



my part tlian has been most 
inviolably performed, it is rather 
grating to pass over in silence 
charges, which may impress the 
uninformed, the' others know 
that these charges have neither 
reason nor truth to support 
them, and that a simj^Ie^^^ nar- 
rative of facts would defeat all 
his assertions, notwithstanding 
they are made with an effrontery, 
which few men do, and for the 
honor of human nature none 
ought, to possess. 

If this gentleman is envious 
of my station, and conceives^^ 
that I stand in his way to pre- 
ferment, I can assure him, in* 
most solemn terms, that the 
first wish of my soul is to re- 
turnf to that peaceful retire- 
ment, and domestick ease and 
happiness from whence I came 
— To this end, all my labours 
have been directed; and for this 
purpose have I been more than 
four years a perfect slave ; en- 
deavouring under as many em- 
barrassing circumstances as ever 
fell to one man's lot to encoun- 
ter, and as pwre*^ motives as 
ever man was influenced by, to 
promote the cause and service I 
had embarked in. 

You may form a pretty good 
judgment of my prospect of a 



S. '^plain and simple." 



337 S. "thinks." 



^^ S. "with as pure;" and by 
me. 



* "The most. 



f Printed by me "retire." 



122 



brilliant campaign, and the jSgure 
I shall cuf^^ in it, when I inform 
you, that excepting about 400 
recruits from the State of 3Ias- 
sachusets^*^ (a portion of lohicli,^'^^ 
I am told, are children hired at 
about 1500 dollars each for 9 
months service) I have had no 
reinforcement to this army since 
last campaign, while our num- 
bers have been, and now are 
diminishing daily by the ex- 
piring term of men's services, 
to say nothing of the natural 
waste by sickness — death — and 
desertion. 

Discouraging as aW*^ this is, 
I feel more from the state of 
our currency, and the little at- 
tention which hitherto appears 
to have been paid to our finances, 
than from the smallness of our 
army — and yet (Providence hav- 
ing so often taken us up, when 
bereft of otlier^*^ hope) I trust 
we shall not fail even in this. — 
The present temper and dispo- 
sition of the people to facilitate 
a loan — to discountenance specu- 
lation — and to ap'preciat^** the 
money is^*^ a happy presage of 
resulting good, and ought to 
be cherished by every possible 
means not repugnant to good 
order and government. 

With you, I conceive that 
great events are comprized in 
the next six months — and wish 



S. "make in it." 



S. "Massachusetts Bay." 
S. "whom." 



S. "all" omitted. 



S. "every other;" and by 



^^^ S. 
3« S, 



"to raise the value of." 
"are." 



123 



I had such information as would 
carry me along with you in 
opinion, that Spain has declared 
in our favor. — But having no 
knowledge of facts to ground 
such a belief on, I am apprehen- 
sive that the natural sloth of 
one Court, and the intrigues and 
artifices of the other, will keep 
things in a state of negotiation 
till the effect of the present ex- 
ertion of Gr. B., this campaign, 
is known, when, possibly, a new 
scene may o^jen.'^*^ '*^ S. "and some new scene 

The public are already pos- open to our view." 
sessed of the little military oc- 
currences of this Quarter — I 
need not repeat them — some 
considerable movement of the 
enemy is in agitation, but of 
what nature — and where point- 
ed, I have not yet been able to 
discover — Lord Cornwallis is 
arrived, and a number of troops 
(it is said) are hourly expected. 

My respectful complimts at- 
tend Mrs. Reed and the ladies 
of yi" family — with very great 
esteem and regai'd, 

I am, Dr Sir, 

Y^ most obedt and affec^ 
Hble Servt, 
G" WASHINGTON. 
His Excely, 

Joseph Eeed, Esq. 



124 



XXVTII. 



West Point, Augt. 22d, 79.* 
Dear Sir, 

Mr. Tilghman delivered me 
your favour of the 8th Inst., 
for which and the favourable 
sentiments expressed of me in 
your publication, addressed to 
the Printer of the Maryland 
Journal, you will permit me to 
offer my grateful acknowledge- 
ments. 

The loss of Fort Washington 
simply — abstracted from the cir- 
cumstances which attended it, 
was an event that gave me much 
pain, because it deprived the 
army of the services of many 
valuable men at a critical period, 
and the public of many valuable 
lives, by the cruelties which 
were inflicted upon them in 
their captive state. — But this 
concern received additional 
poignancy from two considera- 
tions which iL'e)-e hut little knoicn, 
and one of them^'^f never will 
be known to the world, because 
I shall never attempi^'^ to pal- 
liate my own foible^ by ex- 
posing the error^ of another, 
nor indeed could either of them 
come before the public unless 
there had been such a charge as 
must have rendered an enquiry 



^*'' S. "did not appear, one of 

which." 

=^« S. ''attempt" omitted. 

3« S. "faults." 

3^ S. "those of." 



* This is iu the Letter Book. f Printed by me "some of them." 



125 



into the causes of this miscar- 
riage necessary. — The one was 
a noncompliance in General 
Greene with an order sent him 
from White Plains before I 
marched for the western side of 
Hudson's River to withdraw the 
artillery, stores, &c., from the 
Fort, allowing him, however, 
some latitude for the exercise 
of his own judgment as he was 
upon the spot, and could decide 
better from appearances and cir- 
cumstances than I the proprietif''^ 
of a total evacuation. — The other 
was a Resolve of Congress in the 
emphatic words,^^^ 
"Fridai/,^'^ Oct. 11th, 1776." 
" Resolved, that General Wash- 
"ington be desired, if it be prac- 
" ticable, by every art and what- 
"ever expence to obstruct effect- 
'* ually the navigation of the 
"North River, between Fort 
"Washington and Mount Con- 
"stitution, as well to prevent 
"the regress of the enemy's 
" Frigates lately gone up, as to 
"hinder them from receiving 
"succours." 

When I came to Fort Lee and 
found no measures taken for''^* 
an evacuation in consequence of 
the order aforementioned — when 
I found General Greene, of 
whose judgment and candour I 
entertained a good opinion, de- 
cidedly opposed to it, — when I 



^^ S. "on the propriety." 

^^^ S. "in the strong and em- 
phatical words, following." It 
is printed "emphatical" by me. 
3^^ S. "Friday" omitted; also 
by me. 



^^ S. "towards;" so also by me. 



126 



found other opinions coinciding^^^ 
with his — when the wishes of 
Congress to obstruct the naviga- 
tion of the North River, and?^^ 
which were delivered in such 
forceable terms to me,^^'^ recur- 
red — when I knew that the easy 
communication between the dif- 
ferent parts of the army then 
separated by the river depended 
upon it — and lastly when I con- 
sidered that our policy led us 
to waste the campaign without 
coming to a general action on 
the one hand, or to suffer^^^ the 
enemy to overrun the country 
on the other, I conceived that 
every impediment loliidi^^^ stood 
in their way was a mean to an- 
swer these purposes, amff^ when 
thrown into the scale of^^^ those 
opinions which were opposed to 
an evacuation caused that war- 
fare in my mind and hesitation 
which ended in the loss of the 
garrison, and being repugnant 
to my own judgment of the 
advisability^^'^ of attempting to 
hold the Post, filled me with the 
greater regret. 

The two great causes which 
led to this misfortune (and 
which I have before recited) as 
well perhaps as my reasoning 
upon it, which occasioned the 
delay, were concealed from pub- 
lic view; of course^^ left the 
field of censure quite open for 



^^ S. "so coincident;" printed 
by me "coincident." 

^"•^ S. "and"' omitted. 

3^7 S. "to me" omitted. 



■"^'* S. "suffering;" so by me. 



^^9 S. "that." 

^80 S. "these." 
^°^ S. "with." 



^•52 S. "advisableuess;" so by 
me. 



S. "and of course." 



127 



any, and every labourer who in- 
clined to work in it, and afforded 
a fine theme for the pen of a 
malignant writer, who is always^^ 
less regardful of facts than the 
point he wants to establish where 
he has the field wholly to him- 
self, and where concealment of 
a few circumstances will answer 
Ms purpose^^ — or where a small 
transposition of them will give 
a very different complexion to 
the same transaction?^^ 

Why I have run into such a 
lengtlv/^'^ discussion of this 
point — at this time — I am at a 
loss myself to tell — I meant but 
to touch it, en passant, but one 
idea succeeded to another, till it 
would seem that I had been 
preparing my defence for a 
regular charge. 

My ideas of what seems to 
be the only mode left to keep 
our Battalions to their estab- 
lishment or near it, you are 
already acquainted with,* as 
they were conveyed at large to 
the Comee at Valley Forge, in 
'78. — I have seen no cause 
since to change my opinion on 
this head but abundant reason 
to confirm me in it.^^ No man 
dislikes short and temporary en- 
listments more than I do — No 
man everf had greater cause to 



S. "always" omitted. 



S. "answers his purposes." 



36S S. "thins." 



2S7 S. "long. 



S. "confii'm it. 



■ With" omitted. 



f "Ever" omitted. 



128 



reprobate and even curse^^^ the 
fatal policy of the measure than 
I have — No7^'^° no man (with 
decency) ever opposed it more 
in the early part of this contest; 
and had my advice respecting 
this matter been pursued in the 
years seventy five and six, our 
money would have been upon a 
very different establishment in 
point of credit to what it is at 
this day^'''^ as* we should have 
saved millions of pds in bounty 
money, and the consequent evils 
of expiring armies, and new 
levies. — But those hours are 
passed never to be recalled — 
such men as compose the bulk 
of an army are in a different 
train of thinking and actinif''^ 
to what they were in thi'''^ early 
stages of the war, and nothing 
is now left for if'*" but an an- 
nual and systematical mode of 
drafting; which while we retain 
the stamina of an army (engaged 
for the war) will be the best, 
indeed^^ I see no other substi- 
tute, for voluntary enlistments 
— In fact it will come to this, 
for there are people enoio^^^ (old 
soldiers) who will hire^'^^ as sub- 
stitutes, and the difference will 
be, that instead^'^^ of the public's 
emitting, or borrowing money to 
pay their bounties (ivhich is en- 



^^3 S. "and even curse" omitted. 
^'° S. "Nor" omitted. 



^''^ S. "from what it now is." 



^7=^ S. "and acting" omitted. 
^■'^ S. "those." 

^■* S. "for it" omitted. 



^75 S. "indeed" omitted. 



«"« S. "now." 

^'" S. "hire themselves. 

^^^ S. "in lieu." 



* "And." 



129 



larged greatlrf^ every new en- 
listment) these sums^ will be 
paid by individuals — will in- 
crease the demand for circu- 
lating cash — and, as with all 
other commodities in demand, 
raise the value of it by multi- 
plying the means of its wse.^* 

How far those governments 
which are rent and weakened 
by intestine^ divisions have 
energy enough to carry statutes 
of this natur^ into execution 
I do not pretend to be a com- 
petent judge, but such as are 
well established and organized, 
I am sure can do it — Those^* 
that are not, the propriety of 
the measure is so necessary and 
obvious, that I should entertain 
little doubt of their success in 
the experiment. 

The spunge which you say 
some gentlemen have talked of 
using, unless there can be a 
discrimination and proper saving 
clauses provided (and how far 
this is practicable I know not) 
would be unjust and impolitic 
in the extreme. — Perhaps, I do 
not understand what they mean 
by using the spunge — If it be 
to sink the money in the hands 
of the holders of it, and at theii^^ 
loss, it cannot in my opinion he 
justified?^ upon any principle of 
common policy — common sense 
— or common honesty. — But 
9 



^^ S. "the bounties which in- 
crease rapidly." 
"^ S. "bounties." 



"«* S. "for using it." 

^^ S. "internal." 
^ S. "kind." 

^ S. "As to those." 



^ S. "their own." 

^^ S. "stand justified upon any 
principles." 



130 



how far a man, for instance, who 
has possessed himself of 20 
paper dollars by means of one, 
or the value of one, in specie, 
has a just claim upon the public 
for more than one of the latter 
in redemption, and in that ratio 
according to the periods of de- 
preciation, I leave to those who 
are better acquainted with the 
nature of the subject, and have 
more leizure than I have to dis- 
cuss. — To me a measure of this 
kind appears substantial justice 
to the public, and each indi- 
vidual f^ but whether it is ca- 
pable of administration I have 
never thought enough of it to 
form any opinion. 

^^We have given the enemy 
another little stroke at Powles- 
hooh — an acct of which is trans- 
mitted to Congress hy this con- 
veyance, and will, I presume, he 
handed to the public — in the 
mean while I have the pleasure 
to inform you that ah^ 160 pris- 
oners and the colours of the 
Garrison were brought off. 

I am with great esteem and 
regard, 

Dr Sir, 

Y^ most obed' and affe 
Hble Servt, 
G" WASHINGTON. 
His Excelly, 

Joseph Reed, Esqr, 

President. 



^^ S. "to individuals.''' 



^^ S, The passage in Italics 
omitted. 



131 



/ XXIX. 

Wkst Point, Ocl. 22d, 1779.* 
Dear Sir, 

Three days ago, I received 
your obliging favor of the 14th, 
and was sorry to find you had 
been so much indisposed. — Be- 
fore this I hope you have per- 
fectly recovered. — Your early 
attention and that of the As- 
sembly to my requisitions have 
my warmest thanks, — and the 
more so, from the situation in 
which they found you. I could 
wish, however, that the three 
months service of the Militia 
had been made to commence, 
only from the time of their 
joining the army. — I need not 
enter into a detail of reasons for 
this with you, as your own 
judgment and experience will, 
I am persuaded, have already 
anticipated them. Your inten- 
tion of leading your Militia, in 
case they are brought to the 
field, is a circumstance honor- 
able to yourself and flattering 
to me. The example alone 
would have its weight, but se- 
conded by your knowledge of 

discipline — ahilities,^^ activity ^*^ S. "your abilities." 
and bravery, it could not fail of 
happy efi'ects. Men are influ- 
enced greatly by the conduct of 



* This is in the Letter Books. 



132 

their superiors — and particularly 
so, where they have both their 
confidence and affection. 

With respect to the point to 
which you call my recollection — 
I confess — when you intimated 
your desire of Continental rank 
to me, as it passed cursorily 
through my mind — it struck me 
as a matter of indifference ; — or 
at least as one against which no 
important objections then oc- 
curred inasmuch as it was to 
have no operation in the line ; 
however, I must now candidly 
acknowledge, and shaW^ do it ^^ S. "I shall," 
without hesitation, from motives 
of general duty — from a confi- 
dence in your friendship as well 
as in your zeal for the public 
service — and from the express 
authority of your letter — that 
having maturely weighed the 
subject — and examined the con- 
sequences to which it might 
lead — I think it cannot be ob- 
tained — either with a view to 
the purpose you mentioned, 
when you first broached the 
point to me — or with respect to 
the present occasion for which 
the Militia are called out. 

The discontents — ^the jealous- 
ies — the uneasinesses that have 
prevailed in the Army; the com- 
plaints which have been added 
on ace* of rank being conferred 
out of the common course, are 



133 



all opposed to the measure. — 
These uneasinesses, my dear sir, 
tho' not quite so prevalent 
among the different ranks of 
officers as they were, are far, 
very far, from being done away 
— and would, I fear, proceed to 
more than their former height 
upon any supposed injury, whe- 
ther real or imaginary — to what 
they esteemed^^'- their rights. — 
Among the General Officers and 
those next in rank, there would 
be much reason to apprehend 
this, as they (particularly the 
former) have loudly complained 
on the subject of rank being 
given, even where motives of 
national policy— and indeed ne- 
cessity — were urged to justify 
it, and reluctantly^^^ yielded to 
it, merely from that considera- 
tion. From hence, and as in 
your case this consideration 
could not be urged — I should 
fear that it would be attended 
with greater disgust — not from 
any personal, individual objec- 
tion, but from an idea that the 
appointment itself materially 
affected their rights and those 
of the officers in general. Hence 
it is that I have uniformly with- 
held my aid td^^ all applications 
for brevet commissions to for- 
eigners and others who hacP^ or 
were about to quit the service — 



^» S. "esteem.' 



S. "they reluctantly." 



^ S. "from all." 



S. "had quitted." 



134 



professedly — never to interfere 
with the line of our army. 

The situation of our officers 
is delicate — and perhaps re- 
quires a greater degree of atten- 
tion, than that of any others, — 
deriving no emoluments from 
the service, but rather losing at 
the best — patriotism and a love 
of honor are the motives to their 
continuing in it. These must 
be the considerations which in- 
fluence the conduct of by far the 
greatesf^ part — and tho' by 
these motives the officers are 
placed in a much more respect- 
able point of view than if they 
were governed by interest, yet 
the ties are 7io( sufficiently 
stro7ig^^ to induce their submis- 
sion, or at least without great 
difficulty, to any measures they 
esteem injurious. 

For these several reasons I 
cannot in policy advise to any 
measures that might have a 
tendency to obtain I'f''^ for you. 
Nor do I think, after mature 
reflection, that tJie rank heing^^ 
given by brevet which is con- 
trary to the present views of 
Congress and their own resolves 
(24th Nov. 1778, and 20 Feb. 
1779), founded on the discon- 
tents which a contrary practice 
had created — or circumscribed 
in its extent by any qualifica- 
tions which could be thought 
of would alter the matter, or 



395 S. "greater." 



S. "are not so strong. 



^ S. '' obtain the rank." 



S. "that its being given. 



135 



produce the least change in 
the sentiments of the oflScers. 
In any case, the ideas of rank 
and precedence would occur, — 
and I have too much reason to 
believe would give great uneasi- 
ness. The temper of the gene- 
ral officers is at this moment a 
good deal soured — Their dis- 
tresses proceeding from the 
amazing depreciation of money 
(^399 Qjjg hand and a*"" discrimi- 
nation of Congress in the allow- 
ance of subsistence on the other, 
needs'^^ no fresh leaven to set 
their discontents a worMiig ;*°^ 
Rank then being the greatest, 
if not the only benefit they are 
likely to derive for their perse- 
verance in service and injured*'*^ 
fortunes, they become more and 
more tenacious of its value, and 
attend the distribution of it with 
a watchful eye. I have been 
rather prolix on this subject, 
but thought?^* it incumbent on 
me to assign the reasons which 
govern my opinion, because I 
wish you to be convinced, *°^that 
I do not want inclination to com- 
ply where I can do it consistently 
with any of your wishes. With 
very great esteem and regard, 

I am, Dr Sir, 

Y^ most obed* and 
Affecte Hble Servt, 
G« WASHINQTON. 
His Excelly, 

Joseph Reed, Esq. 



^^ S. "on the one." 
*°° S. "the." 

*°^ S. "need." 
^'^ S. "at work." 



*°^ S. "in the service" "and for 
their injured." 



S. "but I thought." 



^'^ S. "that I do not want in- 
clination to comply with your 
wishes, in any instance when it 
is within the reach of my power 
consistently to aid them." 



136 



XXX. 

MoREiSTOWN, May 28^A, 1780.* 

Dear Sir, 

*°^/ am much obliged to you ** S. Omitted. 
for your favor of the 23cf. — No- 
thing could be more necessary 
than the aid given by your State 
towards supplying us with pro- 
vision. — I assure you every idea 
you can form of our distresses 
will fall short of the reality. — 
There is such a combination of 
circumstances to exhaust the 
patience of the soldiery that it 
begins at length to be worn out 
— ^and we see in every line of 
the army the most serious fea- 
tures of mutiny and sedition. — 
All our departments — all our 
operations are at a stand — and 
unless a system very different 

from that which for a long*°^ *°^ S. "which has for a long 
time prevailed be immediately time." 
adopted throughout the States, 
our affairs must soon become 
desperate — beyond the possi- 
bility of recovery. 

If you were on the spot, my 
dear sir, if you could see what 
difficulties surround us on every 
side — how unable we are to ad- 
minister to the most ordinary 
calls of the service — ^you would 
be convinced that these expres- 
sions are not too strong, and 



* This is in the Letter Book. 



137 



that we have almost ceased to 
hype.*^ — ^The country in gene- 
ral is in such a state of insensi- 
bility and indifference to its 
interest,*^ that I dare not flatter 
myself with any change for the 
better. 

The Committee of Congress 
in their late address to the seve- 
ral States have given a just 
picture of our situation, — I very 
much doubt its making the de- 
sired impression, and if it does 
not, I shall consider our lethargy 
as incurable. — The present junc- 
ture is so interesting that if it 
does not produce correspondent 
exertions, it will be a proof that 
motives of honor, public good 
and even self-preservation have 
lost their influence upon our 
minds. — This is a decisive mo- 
ment — one of the most (I will 
go further and say the most) 
important America has seen. — 
The Court of France has made 
a glorious effort for our deliver- 
ance, and, if we disappoint its 
intentions by our supineness, we 
must become contemptible in 
the eyes of all mankind; nor 
can we, after that, venture to 
confide that our allies will per- 
sist in an attempt to establish 
what it will appear we want 
inclination or ability to assist 
them in. 

Every view of our own cir- 



*°^ S. "and that we have every- 
thing to dread. Indeed I have 
almost ceased to hope." 
^^ S. "interests." 



138 



cumstances ought to determine 
us to the most vigorous efforts ; 
but there are considerations of 
another kind that should have 
equal weight — The combined 
fleets of France and Spain last 
year were greatly superior to 
those of the enemy — The enemy 
nevertJieless*^^ sustained no ma- 
terial damage, and at the close 
of the campaign have given*^^ a 
very important blow to our al- 
lies. — This campaign the differ- 
ence between the fleets from 
every account I have been able 
to collect will be very*^ incon- 
siderable — indeed it is far from 
clear that there will not be an 
equality — What are we to ex- 
pect will be the case if there 
should be another campaign ? — 
In all probability the advantage 
will be on the side of the En- 
glish, and then what will become 
of America? — We ought not to 
deceive ourselves, — The mara- 
time resources of Great Britain 
are more substantial and real 
than those of France and Spain 
united. — Her commerce is more 
extensive than that of both her 
rivals; and it is an axiom that 
the Nation which has the most 
extensive commerce will always 
have the most powerful marine. 
Were these arguments less con- 
vincing the fact speaks for it- 
self — her progress in the course 



410 g "Nevertheless the enemy." 



gave. 



S. "very" omitted. 



139 



of the last year is an incontest- 
ible proof. 

It is true that France in a 
manner created a Fleet in a very 
short space, and this may mis- 
lead us in the judgment we 
form of her naval abilities. But 
if they bore any comparison 
with those of Great Britain how 
comes it to pass that, with all 
the force of Spain added, she 
has lost so much ground in so 
short a time as now to have 
scarcely a superiority. We 
should consider what was done 
by France as a violent and un- 
natural effort of the government 
which for want of suflScient 
foundation cannot continue to 
operate proportionable effects. 

In modern wars, the longest 
purse must chiefly determine 
the event — I fear that of the 
enemy will be found to be so — 
though the Government is deep- 
ly in debt and of course poor, 
the Nation is rich and their 
riches afford a fund which will 
not be easily exhausted. — Be- 
sides, their system of public 
credit is such that it is capable 
of greater exertion than that of 
any other nation. Speculatists 
have been a long time foretell- 
ing its downfall, but we see no 
symptoms of the catastrophe 
being very near. — I am per- 
suaded that it will at least last 



140 



out the war, and then in the 
opinion of many of the best 
politicians it will be a national 
advantage. — If the war should 
terminate successfully, the crown 
will have acquired such influ- 
ence and power that it may at- 
tempt anything — and a bank- 
ruptcy will probably be made a 
ladder to climb to absolute au- 
thority. Administration*^^ may "' S. "The administration." 
perhaps wish to drive matters to 
this issue — at any rate they will 
not be restrained by an appre- 
hension of it from forcing the 
resources of the State. It will 
promote their present purposes 
on which their all is at stake, 
and it may pave the way to 
triumph more effectually over 
the constitution. — With this 
disposition, I have no doubt that 
ample means will be found to 
prosecute the war with the 
greatest vigor. 

France is in a very different 
position. The abilities of her 
present financier Tias*^*' done "* S. "have." 
wonders. — By a wise adminis- 
tration of the revenues, aided 
by advantageous loans, he has 
avoided the necessity of addi- 
tional taxes. — But I am well 
informed, if the war continues 
another campaign, he will be 
obliged to have recourse to the 
taxes usual in time of war which 
are very heavy — and which the 



141 

people of France are not in con- 
dition to indure for any dura- 
tion.*^ — When this necessity *^ S. "for a long time, 
commences, France makes war 
on ruinous terms; and England 
from her individual wealth will 
find much greater facility in 
supplying her exigencies. 

Spain derives great wealth 
from her mines, but not so 
great as is generally imagined. 
Of late years, the profit to go- 
vernment is essentially dimin- 
ished — Commerce and industry 
are the best means**^^ of a nation; *^^ S. "mines.*' 
both which are wanting to her. 
I am told her treasury is far 
from being so well filled as we 
have flattered ourselves — she is 
also much divided on the pro- 
priety of the war — there is a 
strong party against it. The 
temper of the nation is too 
sluggish to admit of great ex- 
ertions — and though the Courts 
of the two Kingdoms are closely 
linked together, there never has 
been in any of their wars a per- 
fect harmony of measures, nor 
has it been the case in this; 
which has already been no small 
detriment to the common cause. 

I mention these things to 
show that the circumstances of 
our allies, as well as our own, 
call for peace ; to obtain which, 
we must make one great effort 
this campaign. — The present in- 



142 



stance of the friendship of the 
Court of France is attended 
with every circumstance that 
can render it important and 
agreeable ; that can interest our 
gratitude or fire our emulation. 
If we do our duty we may even 
hope to make the campaign de- 
cisive on this Continent.'"-'^ — But 
we must do our duty in earnest 
— or disgrace and ruin will at- 
tend us. — I am sincere in de- 
claring a full persuasion that 
the succour will be fatal to us, 
if our measures are not adequate 
to the emergency. 

Now, my dear sir, I must ob- 
serve to you, that much will 
depend on the State of Pennsyl- 
vania — She has it in her power 
to contribute without comparison 
more to our success than any 
other State; in the two essen- 
tial articles of flour and trans- 
portation. — New York, Jersey, 
Pennsylvania and Maryland are 
our flour countries; — Virginia 
went little on this article*'^^ the 
last crop (and her rescources are 
called for to the Southward). — 
New York, by Legislative co- 
ercion, has already given all she 
could spare for the use of the 
army. Her inhabitants are left 
with scarcely a sufficiency for 
their own subsistence — Jersey, 
from being so long the place of 
the army's residence is equally 



"7 S. "of this contest." 



*^ S. "produced little of this 
article." 



143 

exhausted. — Maryland has made 
great exertions; but she can still 
do something more — Delaware 
may contribute handsomely in 
proportion to her extent — But 
Pennsylvania is our chief de- 
pendence — From every informa- 
tion I can obtain, she is at this 
time full of flour. — I speak to 
you in the language of frankness 
and as a friend. — I do not mean 
to make any insinuations unfa- 
vourable to the State. — I am 
aware of the embarrassments the 
government labours under from 
the open opposition of one party 
and the underhand intrigues of 
another. — I know that with the 
best dispositions to promote the 
public service you have been 
obliged to move with circum- 
spection. — But this is a time to 
hazard and to take a tone of 
energy and decision. All par- 
ties but the disafiected will ac- 
quiesce in the necessity and give 
their support — The hopes and 
fears of the people at large may 
be acted upon in such a manner 
as to make them approve and 
second your views. 

The"'^ matter is reduced to a "^ S. "This." 
point — either Pennsylvania must 
give us all the aid we ask of her, 
or we can undertake nothing. 
We must renounce every idea 
of a co-operation, and must con- 
fess to our allies that we look 



144 



wholly to them for our safety— 
This will be a state of humilia- 
tion and littleness against which 
the feelings of every good Ame- 
rican ought to revolt. — Yours, I 
am convinced, will. — Nor have I 
the least doubt that you will em- 
ploy all your influence to ani- 
mate the legislature and the peo- 
ple at large. — The fate of these 
States hangs upon it — God grant 
we may be properly impressed 
with the consequences. 

I wish the legislature could 
be engaged to vest the executive 
with Plenipotentiary powers. I 
should then expect everything 
practicable from your abilities 
and zeal. This is not a time 
for formality or ceremony. — The 
crisis in every point of view is 
extraordinary — and extraordi- 
nary expedients are necessary — 
I am decided in this opinion. 

I am happy to hear that you 
have a prospect of complying 
with the requisitions of Congress 
for specific supplies — that the 
spirit of the City and State 
seems to revive and the warmth 
of party decline.*^ — These are 
good omens of our success — 
Perhaps this is the proper pe- 
riod to unite. 

I am obliged to you for the 
renewal of your assurances of 
personal regard — ^^My senti- 
ments for you, you are too well 



*^ S. "to decline." 



«* S. "You are too well £ 
quainted with my sentiments. 



145 

acquainted with to make it ne- 
cessary to tell you with how 
much esteem and regard I am, 

Dr Sir, 

Yr most obedt and affe 
Hble Servt, 

G« WASHINGTON. 

'^ I felicitate you on the in- ■'^'^ S. P. S. omitted. 
crease of your family. — Mrs. 
Washington does the same, and 
begs her particular respects and 
congratulations to Mrs. Reed — 
to lohich permit me to add mine. 



\ XXXI. 

' Head Quarters, Bergen County, 

July ith, 1780.* 
My Dear Sir, 

Motives of friendship, not less 
than of public good, induce me 
with freedom to give you my 
sentiments on a matter, which 
interests you personally as well 
as the good of the common cause. 
I flatter myself yort*^^ will receive *^ S. "that you." 
what I say in the same spirit 
which dictates it, and that it 
will have all the influence *^cir- *» S. "which." 
cumstances will possibly permit. 
The Legislature of Pennsyl- 
vania has vested you in case of 
necessity, with a power of de- 
claring Martial Law throughout 
the State, to enable you to take 



* This is in the Letter Books. 
10 



146 

such measures as the exigency 
may demand; so far the Legis- 
lature has done its part. — Eu- 
rope — America — the State itself 
will look to you for the rest. — 
The power vested in you will 
admit of all the latitude that 
could be desired, and may be 
made to mean anything *'^the *^ S. "which.' 
public safefy may require — If it 
is not exerted proportionably, 
you will be responsible for the 
consequences. 

Nothing, my dear Sir, can be 
more delicate and critical than 
your situation — a full discre- 
tionary power lodged in your 
hands in conjunction with the 

Council — great expectations in 

our allies and in the People of 

this country — ample means in 

the State for great exertions of 

every kind — a powerful party 

on one hand to take advantage 

of every opening to prejudice 

you — on the other popular in- 
dolence and avarice averse to 

every measure inconsistent with 

present ease and present interest 

— In this dilemma there is a 

seeming danger, whatever side 

you take; it remains to choose 

that which has least real danger, 

and will best promote the i^ublic 

weal. This in my opinion clearly 

is to exert the powers entrusted 

to you with a boldness and vigor 

suited to the emergency 



147 

In general, I esteem it a good 
maxim that the best way to pre- 
serve the confidence of the peo- 
ple durably, is to promote their 
true interest — there are particu- 
lar exigencies when this maxim 
has peculiar force — When any 
great object is in view, the popu- 
lar mind is roused into expecta- 
tion and prepared to make sacri- 
fices both of ease and property; 

if those to whom fhej/*^ confide *^* S. "the people." 
the management of their affairs 
do not call them to make these 
sacrifices — and the object is not 
attained, or they are involved in 
the reproach of not having con- 
tributed as much as they ought 
to have done towards it — they 
will be mortified at the disap- 
pointment — they will feel the 
censure, and their resentment 
will rise against those who with 
sufficient authority have omitted 
to do what their interest and 
their honor required. — Exten- 
sive powers not exercised as far 
as was necessary have I believe 
scarcely ever failed to ruin the 
possessor — The Legislature and 
the People in your case would 
be very glad to excuse them- 
selves by condemning you. — 
You would be assailed with 
blame from every quarter — and 
your enemies would triumph. 

The party opposed to you in 
Government are making great 



148 



efforts. — I am told the bank 
established for supplying the 
army is principally under the 
auspices of that party; it will 
undoubtedly give them great 
credit with the People, and you 
have no effectual way to counter- 
balance this but by employing 
all your influence and authority 
to render services proportioned 
to your station. — Hitherto, I 
confess to you frankly, my dear 
sir, I do not think your affairs 
are in the train which might be 
wished; and if Pennsylvania 
does not do its part fully, it is 
of so much importance in the 
general scale that we must fail 
of success, or limit our views to 
mere defence. 

I have conversed with some 
gentlemen on the measure of 
filling your battalions — they 
seemed to think you could not 
exceed what the Legislature had 
done for this purpose. — I am of 

a very different sentiment'^'' — *^^ S. "I am of very difforcnt 
The establishment of Martial sentiments." 
Law implies, in my judgment, 
the right of calling any part of 
your citizens into military ser- 
vice, and in any manner which 
may be found expedient; and I 
have no doubt the draft may be 
executed. 

I write to you with the free- 
dom of friendship, and I hope 
you will esteem it the truest 



J 



149 

mark I could give you of it. 
In this view, whether you think 
my observations well founded or 
not, the motive will, I am per- 
suaded, render them agreeable. 
*^Ih offering my respects to Mrs. ■*** S. Omitted. 
Reed, I must he permitted to ac- 
company them with a tender of 
my very warm acknowledgments 
to her and you, for the civilities 
and attention both of you have 
been pleased to show Mrs. Wash- 
ington, — and for the honor you 
have done me in calling the young 
Christian by my name. 
With the greatest regard, 

I am, Dr Sir, 

Yr Affecte Hble Servt, 
0° WASHINGTON. 
His Excely, 

Joseph Reed, Esq. 



XXXII. 



Head Qbs, Passaic Falls, 
Oct. \^th, 1780.* 
Dear Sir, 

By your favor of the third 
from Bethlehem, I perceive my 
letter of the first had not got 
to your hands ; but I have the 
pleasure to find that the business 
you were upon anticipated the 
purposes of it, and was in a fair 
way to answer the end. 



This, I believe, is not in the Letter Books 
10* 



150 



Arnold's conduct is so villain- 
ously perfidious, that there are 
no terms that*''^ can describe the ^'^^ S. "which." 
baseness of his heart — That over- 
ruling Providence which has so 
often and so remarkably inter- 
posed in our favor, never mani- 
fested itself more conspicuously 
than in the timely discovery of 

h'lshorrid mten(to7itosiirre)ider*^ ^^° S. "design of surrendering." 
the Post and Garrison of West 
Point into the hands of the 
Enemy. — I confine my remark 
to this single act of perfidy, for 
I am far from thinking he in- 
tended to hazard a defeat of this 
important object by combining 
another with it, altho' there were 
circumstances which led to a con- 
trary belief. — The confidence and 
folly which has*^' marked the «^ S. "have." 
subsequent conduct of this man 
are of a piece with his villainy; 
and all three are perfect in their 
kind. 

The interest you take in m}' 
supposed escape, and the man- 
ner in which you speak of it, 
claim my thanks as much as if 
he really had intended to involve 
my fate with that of the Garri- 
son — and I consider it as a fresh 
instance of your affectionate re- 
gard for me. 

As I do not recollect ever 
to have held"'- any very par- *^^ S. "had." 
ticular conversation with Gene- 
ral Schuyler respecting Arnold, 



151 

I should be glad to obtain a 
copy of the Letter in which you 
say my "opinion and confidence 
in him (Arnold) is conveyed in 
terms of affection and approba- 
tion." — Sometime before or after 
Arnold's return from Connecti- 
cut (the conversation made so 
little impression on me that I 
know not which) General Schuy- 
ler informed me he had received 
a letter from Arnold intimating 
his intention of joining the army 
and rendering such services as 
his leg would permit — adding 
that he was incapable of active 
service — but could discharge the 
duties of a stationary command, 
without much inconvenience or 
uneasiness to his leg. — I an- 
swered that as we had a pros- 
pect of an active and vigorous 
campaign, I should be glad of 
General Arnold's aid and assist- 
ance, but saw little prospect of 
his obtaining such a command 
as appeared to be the object of 
his wishes, because it was my 
intention to draw my whole 
force into the field when we 
were in circumstances to com- 
mence our operations against 
New York, leaving even West 
Point to the care of Invalids 
and a small Garrison of Militia; 
but if after this previous de- 
claration, the command of that*^^ *^^ S. "the. 
Post — for the reasons he as- 



152 



signed — would be more conve- 
nient and agreeable to him, than 
a command in the field, I should 
readily endulge him — having 
had it hinted to me by a very 
respectable character, a member 
of Congress (not Genl Schuyler) 
that a measure of this kind 
would not be unacceptable to 
the State most immediately in- 
terested in the welfare, and 
safety, of the Post. 

This, to the best of my know- 
ledge and recollection, is every 
syllable that ever passed between 
General Schuyler and me re- 
specting Arnold, or any of his 
concerns — the manner, and the 
matter, appeared perfectly unin- 
teresting to both of us at the 
time. He seemed to have no 
other view in communicating 
the thing than because he was 
requested to do it — and my an- 
swer, dictated by circumstances, 
you already have — but how it 
was communicated the letter 
will shew. 

That this Gentln*^ (Genl «4 g -'t^^^^ q^^x Schuyler." 

Schuyler) possesses a share of 
my regard and confidence I shall 
readily acknowledge — a pretty 
long acquaintance with him — an 
opinion of his abilities — his in- 
timate knowledge of our circum- 
stances — his candor, as far as I 
have had opportunities of form- 
ing a judgment of it — added to 



153 

personal civilities and proofs of 
a warm friendship, which I never 
had a doubt of, would leave me 
without excuse were I to with- 
hold these from him. 

What ascendency he maj' have 
over the army is more than I 
can tell — but I should not be 
surprized if he stands in a fa- 
vourable point of view with re- 
spect to their esteem. — The 
means he took to acquire a true 
knowledge of their distresses, 
while he was with it*^^—t}ie re- "^ S. "them." 
presentations he made to pro- 
cure relief — and his evident en- 
deavours to promote the objects 
for which he was appointed — 
seems*^^ to have made this a *^° S. "seem." 
natural consequence. 

^'^Thai part of your letter ^^ S. Omitted. 
ivhich respects the exchange of 
prisoners iciU he made the sub- 
ject of a particular letter — and 
shall accompany this. 

With great esteem and regard, 
I am, Dr Sir, 

Yr most obed* and aff^ 

Hble Servt, 
/G° WASHINGTON. 




XXXIII. 

HeadQrs, 20th Nov. 1780. 

Dear Sir, 

Your favor of the 15th is just 
come to hand. I cannot suffer 



154 

myself to delay a moment in 

pronouncing"^^ if x\rnold by the *^ S. "that." 

words (in his letter to his wife) 

"I am treated with the greatest 

" politeness by General Washing- 

"ton and the officers of the army 

" who bitterly execrate Mr. Reed 

"and the Council for their vil- 

" lainous attempt to injure me," 

meant to comprehend me in the 

latter part of the expression, that 

he asserted an absolute falsehood. 

It was at no time my inclina- 
tion, much less my intention to 
become a party in his cause — 
and I certainly could not be so 
lost to my own character as to 
become a partizan at the mo- 
ment I was called upon ojficialli/ 
to bring him to tryal.* 

I am not less mistaken if he 
has not extended the former part 
of the paragraph a It'tfle too far. 
True it is he se^-envited some 
civilities I never meant to shew 
him (or any officer in arrest) — 
and he received rebuke before 
I could convince him of the im- 
propriety of his entering upon a 
justification of his conduct in 
my presence — and for bestowing 
such illiberal abuse, as he seemed 
disposed to do, upon those whom 
he denominated his persecutors. 

Although you have done me 
the justice to disbelieve Arnold's 



* The Italics are tliose of the autograph. 



155 



assertion to his wife, a regard to 
my own feelings claims a de- 
claration of the falsehood of it 
from, Dear Sir, 

Y^' most obe* and affect^ 
Hble Servt, 

G° WASHINGTON. 
His Excelly, 

Joseph Reed, Esq. 



